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嘚 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
onomatopoeic; the sound of a horse's hooveszg, 14 strokes, radical 口, rank #35872, Very Hard
(onom.) for the sound of horsehoofsunknown, 14 strokes, radical 口, rank #35872, Very Hard
(de1) T1
  1. 1onomatopoeic; the sound of a horse's hooves
  2. 2(onom.) for the sound of horsehoofs
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March 24, 2026
(de1)

The character 嘚 (dē) is an onomatopoeic word that represents the sound of a horse's hooves. It is commonly used in literary contexts to evoke imagery related to horses and riding. While not frequently used in daily conversation, it can appear in poetry or storytelling to create vivid soundscapes.

Strokes14RadicalFrequency#35872DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, horses are often associated with nobility and strength, and their sounds evoke a sense of freedom and adventure. The use of onomatopoeia like 嘚 in literature reflects a deep connection to nature and the pastoral life.

Memory Tip

Imagine a horse galloping through a field, making a rhythmic 'dē dē' sound as its hooves hit the ground. The character 嘚 looks like a horse's head (the top part) and its body (the lower part), helping you remember both the sound and the meaning.

Meanings of 嘚

(de1)
1onomatopoeic; the sound of a horse's hooves
2(onom.) for the sound of horsehoofs
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 嘚

Simplified
14Strokes
Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 嘚

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AI Study Notes for 嘚

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a horse galloping through a field, making a rhythmic 'dē dē' sound as its hooves hit the ground. The character 嘚 looks like a horse's head (the top part) and its body (the lower part), helping you remember both the sound and the meaning.

Usage Notes

嘚 is generally informal and might not be well understood outside of specific contexts like literature or poetry. Learners should be cautious not to confuse it with other similar-sounding characters; it is best used when describing sounds. The tone is crucial; using the wrong tone can lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 嘚 is not included in HSK vocabulary, it can enhance your understanding of onomatopoeic words in Chinese. Focus on listening to how this sound is used in stories or poems to grasp its emotional and aesthetic value.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, horses are often associated with nobility and strength, and their sounds evoke a sense of freedom and adventure. The use of onomatopoeia like 嘚 in literature reflects a deep connection to nature and the pastoral life.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 嘚 with similar-sounding characters like 的 (de) or 得 (dé), which have different meanings and usages. Remember, 嘚 specifically refers to the sound of horse hooves, while the others serve grammatical purposes.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 嘚

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Etymology of 嘚

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

mouth

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 嘚?

Decomposition of 嘚

IDS Structure⿰口得
Full Character
=
kou3
left
de2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 嘚?

Write 嘚

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

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Cultural Notes for 嘚

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, horses are often associated with nobility and strength, and their sounds evoke a sense of freedom and adventure. The use of onomatopoeia like 嘚 in literature reflects a deep connection to nature and the pastoral life.

Word Family of 嘚

Words Containing This Character1
(onom.) for the sound of horsehoofs
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 嘚 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 嘚

嘚 is rarely used in everyday conversation; it is more appropriate in literary or artistic contexts.