cluster of flowers; earlobe; an item on both sides
HSK 5, m, 6 strokes, radical 木, rank #4833, Hard
duǒ(duo3) T3
1flower
2earlobe
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March 24, 2026
朵duǒ(duo3)
The character 朵 (duǒ) primarily means 'flower' and is used as a classifier for items like flowers and clouds. It can also refer to an 'earlobe' and represents a figurative concept of items that come in pairs or clusters. It is commonly used in both everyday language and poetic contexts.
Strokes6Radical木Frequency#4833DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, flowers often symbolize beauty and love, making 朵 a common term in poetry and songs, especially during festivals like the Spring Festival when flowers bloom.
Memory Tip
Imagine a beautiful flower blooming with two large petals resembling earlobes on either side. The character 朵 combines the radical for 'tree' (木) with the part that looks like two 'ears' (耳) on the sides, helping you remember that it relates to flowers and earlobes.
Meanings of 朵
duǒ(duo3)
1flower
2earlobe
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 朵
朵Simplified
6Strokes
木Radical
数词shùcínumeral (num.)Part of Speech
#4833Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 朵
Podcast: 朵
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AI Study Notes for 朵
Quick Contrast
花 (huā) vs 朵 (duǒ) — use 朵 when counting or classifying flowers, while 花 refers to the flower itself.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a beautiful flower blooming with two large petals resembling earlobes on either side. The character 朵 combines the radical for 'tree' (木) with the part that looks like two 'ears' (耳) on the sides, helping you remember that it relates to flowers and earlobes.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 朵 with similar classifiers. Remember that it is specifically used for flowers and clouds, while other classifiers like 个 (gè) are more general. Use 朵 in informal contexts when discussing nature or beauty.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, focus on its usage in describing nature and its role as a classifier. Connect it with other HSK 5 vocabulary related to nature, such as 花 (huā, flower) and 云 (yún, cloud) to enhance retention.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, flowers often symbolize beauty and love, making 朵 a common term in poetry and songs, especially during festivals like the Spring Festival when flowers bloom.
Common Mistakes
A frequent mistake is using 朵 with general nouns instead of its specific contexts, such as saying '我有五朵书' (I have five books), which should be '我有五本书' (wǒ yǒu wǔ běn shū). Always remember that 朵 is only for flowers and similar items.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 朵
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Grammar Patterns of 朵
朵 functions as a number. It almost always combines with a measure word before a noun (三个人, 五本书). Standalone numbers are rare outside of math or counting. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
In Chinese culture, flowers often symbolize beauty and love, making 朵 a common term in poetry and songs, especially during festivals like the Spring Festival when flowers bloom.
Word Family of 朵
Compounds7
躲duo3to hide
剁duo4to chop by pounding, to hash, to mince
跺duo4to stamp the feet
垛duo3heap, pile; to heap, to pile
哚duo3a chemical element
挆
趓
Words Containing This Character11
耳朵ěrduoear
朵duǒflower
花朵flower
云朵a cloud雲朵
大快朵颐to gorge oneself大快朵頤
花骨朵(coll.) flower bud
咬耳朵(coll.) to whisper in sb's ear
玛奇朵macchiato (loanword)瑪奇朵
骨朵(flower) bud
潘朵拉Pandora
朵颐to munch朵頤
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 躲 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 朵
You can use 朵 in sentences like '她送我一朵玫瑰' (Tā sòng wǒ yī duǒ méiguī), which means 'She gave me a rose.' Another example is '天空中有很多朵云' (Tiānkōng zhōng yǒu hěn duō duǒ yún), meaning 'There are many clouds in the sky.'
朵 (duǒ) has multiple meanings in Chinese. It can refer to a 'flower', an 'earlobe', or be used as a classifier for items like flowers and clouds. Understanding the context is key to grasping its various uses.
朵 (duǒ) is a Chinese character that primarily means 'flower' and is also used to refer to an 'earlobe'. Additionally, it serves as a classifier for items such as flowers and clouds, indicating a pair or a unit of these natural elements.
朵 (duǒ) is used as a measure word for flowers and clouds in Chinese. For example, you would say '一朵花' (yī duǒ huā) to mean 'a flower' or '一朵云' (yī duǒ yún) for 'a cloud'. It's important to use this character correctly to indicate the quantity of these items.
You can use 朵 to quantify flowers, for example, '我买了三朵花' (I bought three flowers).
Yes, 朵 can be used for all types of flowers, but be careful not to use it for fruits or other objects.
朵 is pronounced with a third tone (duǒ), so ensure to pronounce it with the correct intonation.
