道道 (dào dào) — (classifier, reduplicated) every strip / line / course (distributive meaning)

Definition

Reduplicated classifier meaning 'every single (line/course/ray)' — the repetition signals one-by-one, distributive use. Unlike a plain measure word, 道道 is almost always used in this reduplicated distributive form.

classifier
(classifier, reduplicated) every strip / line / course (distributive meaning)

Examples

  • 道道道道。
    Dí rén tū pò le dào dào dào dào fáng xiàn.
    The enemy broke through every line of defense.
  • 道道道道。
    Yàn huì shàng shàng le dào dào dào dào hǎo cài.
    The banquet served every course of fine dishes.
  • 道道。
    Yáng guāng tòu guò shù yè sǎ xià yí dào dào dào dào guāng.
    Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting down every ray of light.

Origin

Reduplicated word
构词法gòucífǎ
重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

道dàostrip
道dàostrip

道 means strip or line; the two 道 together express every strip or line.

Characters in this word

Most 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
行行xíngstreet
止止zhǐfoot
Sound part声符shēngfú
𩠐
首shǒu道dào
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

Early 道 showed a street 行, a foot 止, and a part written 首 or 𩠐; the right part of 行 later disappeared.

Open 道 →

Most 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
行行xíngstreet
止止zhǐfoot
Sound part声符shēngfú
𩠐
首shǒu道dào
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

Early 道 showed a street 行, a foot 止, and a part written 首 or 𩠐; the right part of 行 later disappeared.

Open 道 →

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