讨 (tǎo) - Meaning, Stroke Order & Audio

讨

tǎo[tao3]Tone 3

to discuss, to demand, to invite

HSK 2

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English · to discuss, to demand, to invite

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Topology:Left-right

Strokes:5

Writing Balance Rule: The left speech radical (讠) takes up about one-third of the width, leaving two-thirds for the right component (寸), keeping both sides vertically balanced.

Simplification Logic: The traditional left component 言 is simplified to the standard two-stroke clerical form 讠 (shēngzì).

1. Meaning

to discuss or study

to demand or ask forto inviteto provoketo marry a woman

VerbNeutral#communication#actions#negotiation

Sample Usage

我们开会讨论一下这个问题。
wǒ men kāi huì tǎo lùn yī xià zhège wèn tí.
Let's have a meeting to discuss this question.
讨人喜欢
tǎo rén xǐ huān
likable, charming

2. Sound

/[tʰaʊ̯²¹⁴]/Tone: 214

讨

tǎotao3

ˇ(214)

=tǎo

Initial Consonant

Type: Aspirated Alveolar

Sounds like: t as in 'top'

Aspirated

Airflow Tactile Test: Explosive puff of breath! Tissue held before mouth MUST flutter.

Tongue & Mouth Position: Tongue tip touches the alveolar ridge behind upper front teeth, releasing a burst of air.

Final Rhyme

Vowel Group: -a vowel group

Sounds like: ao rhymes with 'ow' in cow

Mouth Shape Guide: Pronounce as standalone vowel 'ow'.

Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.

Tone

T3 (214)

2 → 1 → 4 (214)

3rd Tone (Low-Dipping)

Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 3 starts mid, dips low into the throat, and bounces back up, similar to saying 'What?' in disbelief.

Sandhi: When followed by another third tone, it changes to a second tone (rising 35).

👂

Listening trap: Do not confuse the low dipping Tone 3 with Tone 4; ensure the voice dips fully down before rising.

👋

Physical Tone Gesture: Trace a checkmark in the air with your finger: start mid-high, dip down to your chest, and sweep up high.

3. Writing

Topology: Left-right · Strokes: 5 strokes

Writing Balance Rule: The left speech radical (讠) takes up about one-third of the width, leaving two-thirds for the right component (寸), keeping both sides vertically balanced.

Simplification Logic: The traditional left component 言 is simplified to the standard two-stroke clerical form 讠 (shēngzì).

4. Components

Radical 讠 · Speech Radical (Words, speaking, language)

Semantic Clue (形旁): 讠 (Indicates actions related to speech, asking, or discussion.)

Phonetic Clue (声旁): 寸 (original sound: cùn / tǎo sound phonetic clue)

You use your words (讠) measured out precisely by rule (寸) to demand answers, discuss topics, or ask for things.

讠 Speech / Communication
寸 Inch / Measure / Rule

5. History

Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)

Origin: Originally combined 言 (speech) and 寸 (hand/measurement unit), depicting using authoritative words or interrogation to demand or exact something.

Semantic Evolution: Shifted from demanding tribute or punishing enemies to general asking, demanding, discussing, and seeking.

In classical texts, it often meant sending armed forces to suppress rebels ('讨伐').

6. Sinosphere

🇻🇳

Sino-Vietnamese

thảo

Mandarin Tone 3 corresponds roughly to Vietnamese hỏi/ngã tone contour.

🇯🇵

Kanji (Japanese)

On: トウ (tō) / Kun: たず.ねる (tazuneru)

🇰🇷

Hanja (Korean)

토

7. Memory

Vivid Mnemonic Story

To **discuss** a contract, you measure every single word with an inch-ruler (寸) of speech (讠).

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)

讨

tǎoto discuss / demandBase character

衬

chènlining / to matchReplaces right side with village (村) for lining clothes.

Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)

衬(chèn)

衬 has 村 (village) on the right; 讨 has 寸 (inch) on the right.

8. Mastery

Active Recall Challenge

我们今天开会来[___]这个问题。

Clue: tǎo lùn

Common Learner Pitfall

Confusing the right-hand component 寸 (cùn) with 木 (mù) or 村 (cūn).

Memory Prompts

Recognition: When you see 讨, what does it mean and how do you pronounce it?

Production: How do you write the character for 'to discuss/demand' (tǎo)?

讨tǎoto discuss, to demand, to invite

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