逃 (táo) — to escape; to flee; to run away
Definition
Single-character verb for fleeing danger or a situation — 'flee, escape.' More dramatic than 跑 (running is neutral; 逃 implies danger or avoidance). Pairs with 跑 in compound 逃跑 (HSK6) and with 生 in 逃生 (escape for one's life).
verb
to escapeto fleeto run away
Examples
- 逃。Tā cóng dà huǒ zhōng táo le chū lái.He escaped from the big fire.
- 逃。Miàn duì wèn tí bú yào zǒng shì xiǎng táo.Don't always think about running away from problems.
- 逃。Tā táo dào le guó wài.He fled abroad.
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.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
辶Written in full as辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
兆
兆zhào逃táo
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
逃 pairs 辶 (walk) with 兆, which gives the pronunciation.
Appears in
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