Meanings of 牍
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About 牍
Podcast: 牍
Podcast: 牍
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AI Study Notes for 牍
文书 (wénshū, written document) — use 牍 (dú) for formal or historical contexts, while 文书 (wénshū) is more general and contemporary.
Be cautious not to confuse 牍 with similar characters like 读 (dú, to read) or 笔 (bǐ, pen), which may arise in contexts involving literacy. This character is more formal, so it is best used in written communication or discussions about documents rather than casual conversation.
牍 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists but is relevant for learners interested in formal or historical language. Students should focus on its usage in the context of documents and combine it with related vocabulary like 文件 (wénjiàn, document) to enhance understanding.
Learners often confuse 牍 with 读 (dú). A common mistake is using 牍 in casual conversation, such as saying '我在牍书' (Wǒ zài dú shū, 'I am reading a book') instead of using 读. The correct usage would be '我在读书'.
Pronunciation of 牍
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Etymology of 牍
Phonosemantic compound. 片 represents the meaning and 卖 represents the sound. Simplified form of 牘.
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Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 牍
Phonosemantic compound. 片 represents the meaning and 卖 represents the sound. Simplified form of 牘.
- 1The meaning half片 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half卖 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaypage
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 牍? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 牍
Identify the Components
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How to say writing tablet; documents, books in Chinese
“writing tablet; documents, books” in Chinese is牍
The character 牍 (dú) refers to writing tablets or documents, particularly in historical contexts. It is commonly used to denote formal written records or texts, often associated with legal or administrative documents. In modern usage, it can imply any form of written communication that holds significance.
When to use 牍
Be cautious not to confuse 牍 with similar characters like 读 (dú, to read) or 笔 (bǐ, pen), which may arise in contexts involving literacy. This character is more formal, so it is best used in written communication or discussions about documents rather than casual conversation.
牍 or something close to it
文书 (wénshū, written document) — use 牍 (dú) for formal or historical contexts, while 文书 (wénshū) is more general and contemporary.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 牍 with 读 (dú). A common mistake is using 牍 in casual conversation, such as saying '我在牍书' (Wǒ zài dú shū, 'I am reading a book') instead of using 读. The correct usage would be '我在读书'.
Write 牍
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Practice writing 牍 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 牍
Compound Meaning
What does 牍 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 牍
While both refer to documents, 牍 specifically relates to written tablets or formal records, whereas 文件 is a broader term for any document.
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