What does 掉 mean in Chinese?

掉 (diào) means "to fall; to drop; to lag behind; to lose; to go missing; to reduce; fall (in prices); to lose (value, weight etc); to wag; to swing; to turn; to change; to exchange; to swap; to show off; to shed (hair); (used after certain verbs to express completion, fulfillment, removal etc)" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 4.

How do you pronounce 掉?

掉 is pronounced "diào" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 4.

What HSK level is 掉?

掉 is an HSK 4 word on the new HSK exam syllabus. It is HSK 4 on both the old and the new exam.

What words contain the character 掉?

Common words with 掉 include 丢掉 (to lose), 去掉 (to get rid of), 乱掉 (to throw away), 做掉 (to kill), 免掉 (to eliminate).

How do you write 掉?

You can practice writing 掉 using our stroke order tool.

掉 (diào), to fall

掉

diào

to fall; to drop; to lag behind; to lose

HSK 4verb

Character Breakdown

Radical: 手 (no. 64)

View stroke order →

Definitions

(verb) to fall
to drop
to lag behind
to lose
to go missing
to reduce
fall (in prices)
to lose (value, weight etc)
to wag
to swing
to turn
to change
to exchange
to swap
to show off
to shed (hair)
(used after certain verbs to express completion, fulfillment, removal etc)

Example Sentences

小心别把手机掉了。

Xiǎoxīn bié bǎ shǒujī diào le

Be careful not to drop your phone

Words Containing 掉

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
丢掉	diū diào	to lose
去掉	qù diào	to get rid of
乱掉	luàn diào	to throw away
做掉	zuò diào	to kill
免掉	miǎn diào	to eliminate

Related Words

去(qù)· to go

→

掉队(diào duì)· to fall behind

→

下挫(xià cuò)· (of sales, prices etc) to fall

→

一落千丈(yī luò qiān zhàng)· lit. to drop a thousand zhang in one fall (idiom)

→

HSK levels

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

掉: HSK 4 on both the old and the new exam. 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 掉 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.