Definition
套 (tào) has three main uses: as a verb meaning 'to cover/put on' (e.g., a coat); as a verb meaning 'to trap or slyly draw out information' (the action, not the trap itself — compare nouns 圈套/陷阱); and as a classifier for matched sets or suites (e.g., a set of furniture), whereas 组 (zǔ) is a classifier for groups or series that may not be a matching set.
verb
to coverto encaseto put on (a cover)to draw out (information) slylyto trap
classifier
used for setscollectionsor a suite of things
Easily confused
- 美měilook-alikebeautiful; pretty
- 逃táosound-aliketo escape; to flee; to run away
- 天tiānlook-alike(noun) sky
- 讨tǎosound-aliketo demand, ask for (payment, explanation, etc.)
- 桃táosound-alikepeach
- 掏tāosound-aliketo take or pull out (from a pocket, bag, or container); to scoop out
- 淘táosound-aliketo wash or rinse (rice, grain) by agitating in water
Examples
- 套。Wǒ mǎi le yí tào xīn shāfā.I bought a new set of sofas.
- ，套。Wàimiàn hěn lěng, kuài bǎ wàiyī tào shàng.It's cold outside, quickly put on your coat.
- 套，。Bié xiǎng tào chū wǒ de huà, wǒ bú huì shuō de.Don't try to get me to spill information — I won't say anything.
Browse more HSK 5 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.