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淘汰 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
淘汰táotàito wash outHSK 6, v, rank #1154, Hard
淘汰táotàielimination (by selection)HSK 6, v, rank #1154, Hard
淘汰táotàinatural selectionHSK 6, v, rank #1154, Hard
淘汰táotàito knock out (in a competition)HSK 6, v, rank #1154, Hard
淘汰táotàito die outHSK 6, v, rank #1154, Hard
淘汰táotàito phase outHSK 6, v, rank #1154, Hard
táotài(tao2tai4) T2
  1. 1to wash out
  2. 2elimination (by selection)
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March 24, 2026
淘汰táotài(tao2tai4)

淘汰 (táotài) refers to the process of eliminating or phasing out something based on specific criteria, commonly used in contexts like competitions, job selections, or natural selection in biology. It implies a process where the less qualified or less fit are removed to allow for the advancement of stronger candidates or options.

Frequency#1154DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

淘汰 is often used in discussions about talent selection in Chinese education and the corporate world, highlighting the competitive nature of these environments and the emphasis on meritocracy.

Memory Tip

Imagine a washing machine (淘) where you wash out (汰) all the clothes that are too dirty or old. The character 淘 suggests 'washing out,' while 汰 can be remembered as 'to eliminate' dirty clothes from your wardrobe.

Meanings of 淘汰

táotài(tao2tai4)
1to wash out
2elimination (by selection)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 淘汰

淘汰Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#1154Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 淘汰

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Podcast: 淘汰

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AI Study Notes for 淘汰

Quick Contrast

筛选 (shāixuǎn) vs 淘汰 (táotài): use 淘汰 when emphasizing elimination of the less qualified, while 筛选 focuses on selecting the best from a group.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a washing machine (淘) where you wash out (汰) all the clothes that are too dirty or old. The character 淘 suggests 'washing out,' while 汰 can be remembered as 'to eliminate' dirty clothes from your wardrobe.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone; the second character 汰 must be pronounced with a fourth tone to convey 'elimination' correctly. Common collocations include 淘汰赛 (táotài sài, elimination match) and 淘汰制度 (táotài zhìdù, elimination system).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 淘汰 connects with other advanced terms related to selection and competition. Focus on its usage in both formal contexts like business and informal settings like sports.

Cultural Note

淘汰 is often used in discussions about talent selection in Chinese education and the corporate world, highlighting the competitive nature of these environments and the emphasis on meritocracy.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 淘汰 with 选择 (xuǎnzé, to choose), mistakenly using it when they mean to say 'select.' For example, saying '我淘汰这个人' (I淘汰 this person) should be corrected to '我选择这个人' (I choose this person).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 淘汰

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Component Characters

淘táoto wash
HSK 711 strokes氵
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汰tàito discard
7 strokes氵
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Write 淘汰

淘
汰

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

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Grammar Patterns of 淘汰

淘汰 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 6 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.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

10名参赛者中有4名被____或自行退出了。

Of the 10 starters, four were eliminated or retired.

Example Sentences for 淘汰 (6)

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1
10名参赛者中有4名被淘汰或自行退出了。

10 10 míng cān sài zhě zhōng4 yǒu 4 míng bèi táo tài huò zì háng tuì。

Of the 10 starters, four were eliminated or retired.
2
在目前的形势下，船东们都不愿淘汰掉旧船。

zài mù qián de xíng shì xià， ， chuán dōng mén dū bù yuàn táo tài diào jiù。

In the present climate, owners are hanging on to old ships.
3
丹麦人在点球大战中胜出，赢下了那场欧洲杯淘汰赛。

dān mài rén zài diǎn qiú dà zhàn zhōng shèng chū， ， yíng xià le nà cháng ōu zhōu bēi táo tài。

The Danes won that UEFA tie in a shoot-out.
4
这种飞机在1942年年初就濒临淘汰了。

zhè zhǒng fēi jī zài1942 1942 nián nián chū jiù bīn lín táo tài。

The aircraft was nearing obsolescence by early
5
纽卡斯尔队以1比2的总比分被淘汰出局。

niǔ kǎ sī ěr duì yǐ1 12 bǐ 2 de zǒng bǐ fēn bèi táo tài。

Newcastle went out of the competition, losing 2-1 on aggregate.
6
这部旧缝纫机大概到了被淘汰的时候了.

zhè bù jiù féng rèn jī dà gài dào le bèi táo tài de shí hòu le.

It's about time this old sewing machine was put out to pasture.

Cultural Notes for 淘汰

🏮Cultural insight

淘汰 is often used in discussions about talent selection in Chinese education and the corporate world, highlighting the competitive nature of these environments and the emphasis on meritocracy.

Frequently Asked Questions about 淘汰

You can use 淘汰 in contexts involving competition, such as sports tournaments or job selections, where weaker candidates are eliminated.