Definition
兜 has two distinct meanings. As a noun, it means a small bag or pocket, more specific than 口袋 (general pocket) or 袋子 (bag). As a verb, it can mean 'to take responsibility (often by covering for someone)' — more colloquial than 负责 and less formal than 肩负 — or 'to go around/circle' (as in 兜圈子), distinct from 绕 (to make a detour) and 盘旋 (to spiral in air).
noun
pocketsmall bag (as in clothing or accessories)
verb
to take responsibility forto bear (a burden, cost, etc.)to go aroundto circle (used in compounds like 兜圈子, 兜风)
Easily confused
- 先xiānlook-alikefirst, in advance, before others
- 都dōusound-alike(adverb) all, both (indicates totality)
- 充chōnglook-aliketo fill; to charge (a battery)
- 斗dòusound-aliketo fight (physically, verbally, or psychologically)
- 四sìlook-alikefour
- 逗dòusound-alike(verb) to tease playfully; to entice
- 匹pǐlook-alike(classifier) for horses, mules, and other equine animals
- 抖dǒusound-aliketo tremble, to shake (from cold, fear, etc.)
- 陡dǒusound-alikesteep, precipitous
Examples
- 。Wǒ bǎ shǒujī fàng zài dōu lǐ.I put my phone in my pocket.
- 兜。Chū le wèntí tā yí gè rén dōu rén dōu zhe.He took responsibility for the problem all by himself.
- 。Zhōumò wǒmen kāi chē chū qù dōu fēng.On weekends, we go out for a drive.
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