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到处 (dào chù) — everywhere

Definition

到处 (dàochù) is the everyday adverb meaning 'everywhere' — a single word modifying a verb (到处找, 到处是). 四处 is similar but more emphatic and slightly more written.

adverb
everywhere

Examples

  • 到处。
    Wǒ dào chù zhǎo wǒ de shǒu jī.
    I'm looking for my phone everywhere.
  • 到处。
    Gōng yuán lǐ dào chù shì hái zi.
    There are children everywhere in the park.
  • 到处。
    Tā xǐ huan dào chù kàn fēng jǐng.
    He likes to look at the scenery everywhere.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

到dàoarrive at
处chùplace

到 means arrive at and 处 means place; together they picture arriving at any place, hence everywhere.

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
至至zhìto arrive
Sound part声符shēngfú
刀
刀dāo到dào
Same sound today

到 combines 至, meaning 'to arrive', with 刀 as the sound part. The 至 part points to the idea of reaching a stopping point.

Open 到 →

Most 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 處; 处 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
夂夂zhǐ
几几jǐtable
Sound part声符shēngfú
虍
虍hū處chǔ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 處 pairs 虍, giving the sound, with 夂 and 几, a table, as meaning parts. The simplified 处 is a shorthand and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 处 →

Grammar

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 3HSK 2.0 Level 41000 Most Frequent Chinese Words2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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