What does 倒 mean in Chinese?

倒 (dào) means "to place upside down; to invert; to pour; to throw out; to move backwards; however; actually; as a matter of fact; contrary to expectation" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 4.

How do you pronounce 倒?

倒 is pronounced "dào" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 4.

What HSK level is 倒?

倒 is an HSK 4 word on the new HSK exam syllabus. It is HSK 5 on the old exam, HSK 4 on the new one.

What words contain the character 倒?

Common words with 倒 include 倒塌 (to collapse (of building)), 倒下 (to collapse), 倒伏 ((of cereal crops) to collapse and lie flat), 倒休 (to shift holidays, taking a weekday off), 倒位 (inversion).

How do you write 倒?

You can practice writing 倒 using our stroke order tool.

倒 (dào), to place upside down

倒

dào

to place upside down; to invert; to pour; to throw out

HSK 4 Was HSK 5verb

Character Breakdown

Radical: 人 (no. 9)

View stroke order →

Definitions

(verb) to place upside down
to invert
to pour
to throw out
to move backwards
however
actually
as a matter of fact
contrary to expectation

Example Sentences

请给我倒杯水。

Qǐng gěi wǒ dào bēi shuǐ

Please pour me a glass of water

Words Containing 倒

Word	Pinyin	Meaning	HSK
倒塌	dǎo tā	to collapse (of building)	HSK 7-9
倒下	dǎo xià	to collapse
倒伏	dǎo fú	(of cereal crops) to collapse and lie flat
倒休	dǎo xiū	to shift holidays, taking a weekday off
倒位	dào wèi

Related Words

事实上(shì shí shàng)· in fact

→

反(fǎn)· contrary

→

反转(fǎn zhuǎn)· reversal

→

乱套(luàn tào)· in a mess

→

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 4
HSK 2.0: HSK 5
HSK Lord study list: HSK 2 list

倒: HSK 5 on the old exam, HSK 4 on the new one. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

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.

Start studying free The words new HSK 4 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.