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謄 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
謄téngto copy, to transcribex, 17 strokes, radical 言
téng(teng2) T2
  1. 1to copy, to transcribe
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March 24, 2026

謄téng(teng2)

The character 謄 (téng) means 'to copy' or 'to transcribe.' It is commonly used in contexts related to duplicating written material, such as documents or texts, often with a focus on accuracy and fidelity to the original. This term is primarily used in formal or academic settings.

Strokes17Radical言
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, the act of copying texts was highly regarded, especially when it came to preserving classical literature and historical documents. Scribes were respected for their meticulous work in transcribing important texts.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'tender' (téng sounds like 'tender') touch as you carefully transcribe a delicate ancient manuscript. The character 謄 includes the speech radical 言, suggesting communication through written words, representing the act of copying something important.

Meanings of 謄

téng(teng2)
1to copy, to transcribe
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 謄 means.

About 謄

謄Simplified
17Strokes
言Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 謄

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Podcast: 謄

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AI Study Notes for 謄

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 謄 with 复制 (fùzhì), which also means 'to copy' but is more commonly used for duplicating objects or files. 謄 is more formal and specific to written texts. Be mindful of using the correct tone; 謄 is pronounced with a rising tone (2nd tone).

HSK Study Tips

Although 謄 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, it is useful for students at HSK 4 and above who are dealing with literature or academic texts. Focus on its usage in formal writing contexts to enhance your understanding of academic Chinese.

Common Mistakes

Learners may mistakenly use 謄 in informal contexts where 复制 would be more appropriate, such as copying a document on a photocopier. For example, saying '我需要謄这个文件' (I need to copy this document) would be incorrect; it should be '我需要复制这个文件'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 謄

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Example

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Etymology of 謄

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

To make 誊 a copy 月; 誊 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 謄?

Decomposition of 謄

IDS Structure⿰月誊
謄Full Character
=
月yue4
left
誊teng2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 謄?

How to say to copy, to transcribe in Chinese

“to copy, to transcribe” in Chinese is謄téng

The character 謄 (téng) means 'to copy' or 'to transcribe.' It is commonly used in contexts related to duplicating written material, such as documents or texts, often with a focus on accuracy and fidelity to the original. This term is primarily used in formal or academic settings.

When to use 謄

Learners often confuse 謄 with 复制 (fùzhì), which also means 'to copy' but is more commonly used for duplicating objects or files. 謄 is more formal and specific to written texts. Be mindful of using the correct tone; 謄 is pronounced with a rising tone (2nd tone).

What learners get wrong

Learners may mistakenly use 謄 in informal contexts where 复制 would be more appropriate, such as copying a document on a photocopier. For example, saying '我需要謄这个文件' (I need to copy this document) would be incorrect; it should be '我需要复制这个文件'.

Write 謄

謄

Practice writing 謄 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 謄

Words Containing This Character3
誊téngto transcribe謄
誊写to transcribe謄寫
誊录to copy out謄錄
Exercise 1 of 3

Characters with 謄

What does 誊 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 謄

While both mean 'to copy,' 謄 specifically refers to transcribing written texts, often in a formal context, whereas 复制 generally applies to copying objects or files.

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