讨 (tǎo) — to demand, ask for (payment, explanation, etc.); to provoke, invite (a reaction, often positive or negative); (literary) to suppress (rebellion) / to denounce
Definition
讨 covers several distinct senses: 'to demand/ask for' (讨债), 'to court/attract' (讨人喜欢), and the literary 'to suppress (rebellion).' For blame/criticism, use 指责; for reporting wrongdoing, use 举报.
verb
to demandask for (payment, explanation, etc.)to provokeinvite (a reaction, often positive or negative)(literary) to suppress (rebellion) / to denounce
Examples
- 。Tā měi gè yuè dōu qù tǎo zhài.He goes to collect debts every month.
- 讨。Tā fēi cháng tǎo rén xǐ huan.She is very likable.
- 。Gǔ dài dì wáng cháng pài bīng tǎo fá pàn luàn.Ancient emperors often sent troops to suppress rebellions.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 討; 讨 is its simplified writing.
The traditional form 討 pairs 言 (speech) with a shortened form of 肘 for sound; an old reading took 言 plus 寸 (hand) as 'rectify'. The simplified 讨 is a shorthand, so its parts are not historical components.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.