What does 倒 mean in Chinese?

倒 (dào/dǎo) means "inverted, to fall, to collapse" in Chinese. The new HSK exam expects you to recognise it at HSK 4.

How do you write 倒?

Use the interactive stroke-order tool to see how 倒 is written.

What is the radical of 倒?

Radical information for 倒 is being updated.

How many strokes does 倒 have?

Stroke count information for 倒 is being updated.

What HSK level is 倒?

On the new HSK exam syllabus, 倒 is a character to recognise at HSK 4 and to write by hand at HSK 4.

倒 (dào/dǎo): Meaning, Stroke Order, Radical & Examples

倒

dào/dǎo

inverted, to fall, to collapse

HSK 4 character

Quick Answer

倒 (dào/dǎo) means "inverted, to fall, to collapse" with HSK 4 on the new exam.

Full dictionary entry for 倒 →Animated stroke-order for 倒 →

Pronunciation

dàodǎo

倒 has 2 readings. Context (the surrounding word and part of speech) determines which reading applies.

Meaning

Primary: inverted

Other meanings:

to fall
to collapse

Basic info

Pinyin	dào/dǎo
Meanings	inverted, to fall, to collapse
New HSK exam	Recognise at HSK 4, write by hand at HSK 4
Frequency	#178 most common

Example sentences

请给我倒杯水。
Qǐng gěi wǒ dào bēi shuǐ.
Please pour me a glass of water.
From 倒 (HSK 4)
小心路滑，别摔倒了。
Xiǎoxīn lù huá, bié shuāidǎo le.
Be careful the road is slippery, don't fall.
From 摔倒
今天真倒霉，不仅丢了钱包，还错过了公交车。
Jīntiān zhēn dǎoméi, bùjǐn diū le qiánbāo, hái cuòguò le gōngjiāochē.
Today was really unlucky - I not only lost my wallet but also missed the bus.
From 倒霉 (HSK 7-9)

Words containing 倒

Word	Pinyin	Meaning	HSK
倒	dào	inverted	HSK 4
倒霉	dǎoméi	fall on evil days	HSK 7-9
摔倒	shuāidǎo	fall
倒闭	dǎobì	to go bankrupt, to close down	HSK 6
倒塌	dǎotā	to collapse, to topple	HSK 7-9
倒退	dàotuì	to fall back, to go backwards	HSK 7-9
颠倒	diāndǎo	to turn upside down	HSK 7-9
跌倒	diēdǎo	to fall down
反倒	fǎndào	on the contrary	HSK 7-9

On the new HSK 4 exam

Studying for HSK 4? Keep 倒 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.

倒