HSK 4, v, 11 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #987, Medium
脱
tuō
to take off
HSK 4, v, 11 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #987, Medium
脱
tuō
to escape
HSK 4, v, 11 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #987, Medium
脱
tuō
to get away from
HSK 4, v, 11 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #987, Medium
脱
tuō
to take off, to shed; to escape from
HSK 4, v, 11 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #987, Medium
tuō(tuo1) T1
1to shed
2to take off
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
脱(脫)tuō(tuo1)
The character 脱 (tuō) means to shed or take off something, such as clothing or an outer layer. It can also imply escaping or getting away from a situation, often used in contexts like '脱离' (tuōlí) which means to detach or break away from something. This character is commonly used in both everyday language and more formal contexts.
Strokes11Radical⺼Frequency#987DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of shedding is often associated with renewal or transformation, akin to spring cleaning or wardrobe changes for the new year. The act of removing old clothing or layers can symbolize letting go of the past.
Memory Tip
Imagine a snake shedding its skin in a dramatic escape from a predator—this visual connects to 脱 (tuō) as the snake 'takes off' its old skin. The left side of the character 脚 (meaning 'foot') can remind you of stepping away or escaping, reinforcing the idea of shedding or taking off.
Meanings of 脱
tuō(tuo1)
1to shed
2to take off
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 脱
脱Simplified
脫Traditional
11Strokes
⺼Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#987Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 脱
Podcast: 脱
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 脱
Quick Contrast
脱 (tuō) vs 去 (qù) — use 脱 when emphasizing shedding or taking off, while 去 focuses on the action of going away.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a snake shedding its skin in a dramatic escape from a predator—this visual connects to 脱 (tuō) as the snake 'takes off' its old skin. The left side of the character 脚 (meaning 'foot') can remind you of stepping away or escaping, reinforcing the idea of shedding or taking off.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 脱 with 脑 (nǎo), which means 'brain'; while both involve physical aspects, 脱 focuses on removal or escape. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but is often found in more casual conversation. Common collocations include 脱衣服 (tuō yīfu - to take off clothes) and 脱离 (tuōlí - to detach from).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 4 word, 脱 connects well with other verbs related to actions and changes, such as 走 (zǒu - to walk) and 剪 (jiǎn - to cut). Students should focus on the different contexts where 脱 can be used, especially in terms of physical actions and metaphorical escapes.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of shedding is often associated with renewal or transformation, akin to spring cleaning or wardrobe changes for the new year. The act of removing old clothing or layers can symbolize letting go of the past.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 脱 in contexts where 'removing' isn't applicable, like saying '我脱了我的头' (Wǒ tuōle wǒ de tóu - I took off my head), which is nonsensical. The correct usage would be related to items of clothing or layers, such as '我脱了我的鞋' (Wǒ tuōle wǒ de xié - I took off my shoes).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 脱
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 脱 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 脱 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 脱
脱 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 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
The two candidates stood head and shoulders above the rest.
10
他们挣脱后开着一辆偷来的车逃之夭夭。
tā mén zhèng tuō hòu kāi zháo yī liàng tōu lái de chē táo zhī yāo yāo。
They broke free and made off in a stolen car.
Cultural Notes for 脱
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, shedding one's old skin or habits is often associated with personal growth and transformation, similar to how snakes shed their skin.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of shedding is often associated with renewal or transformation, akin to spring cleaning or wardrobe changes for the new year. The act of removing old clothing or layers can symbolize letting go of the past.
Word Family of 脱
Words Containing This Character20
脱tuōto shed脫
摆脱bǎituōto break away from擺脫
脱离tuōlíto break away from脫離
逃脱to run away逃脫
解脱jiětuōto untie解脫
脱衣舞striptease脫衣舞
脱光to strip naked脫光
脱身tuōshēnto get away脫身
脱落tuōluòto drop off脫落
脱颖而出tuōyǐng’érchūto rise above others脫穎而出
脱水to dry out脫水
挣脱to throw off掙脫
洒脱natural灑脫
脱下to take off (clothing)脫下
脱口而出tuōkǒu’érchūto blurt out脫口而出
脱节tuōjiéto come apart脫節
脱发baldness脫髮
脱手to get rid of脫手
脱胎换骨to turn over a new leaf脫胎換骨
脱掉to remove脫掉
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 脱 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 脱
Yes, 脱 (tuō) is commonly used in everyday conversation, especially when discussing clothing or actions related to removing something. It is also used metaphorically in contexts of escape or getting away from a situation. Understanding this character can enhance your conversational skills in Chinese.
You can use 脱 (tuō) in sentences like '我脱了外套' (Wǒ tuōle wàitào), which means 'I took off my coat.' Another example is '他逃脱了' (Tā táotuōle), meaning 'He escaped.' This character is versatile and can be applied in various situations involving removal or escape.
Some common phrases with 脱 include '脱衣服' (tuō yīfú), meaning 'to take off clothes,' and '脱离' (tuōlí), which means 'to detach' or 'to escape from.' These phrases illustrate the versatility of the character in both literal and figurative contexts.
脱 (tuō) means 'to shed,' 'to take off,' 'to escape,' or 'to get away from.' It can be used in various contexts, such as taking off clothing or shedding skin. This character is often found in phrases related to removal or escape.
You can say '我脱了外套' (Wǒ tuōle wàitào) which means 'I took off my coat.'
Yes, it can imply escaping from a situation, as in '他想要脱离这个环境' (Tā xiǎng yào tuōlí zhège huánjìng) meaning 'He wants to escape from this environment.'
Yes, words like 去 (qù - to go) can also express movement away from something, but 脱 specifically emphasizes removal or shedding.
