度 (dù) — (verb) to spend (time), to pass (time); (noun) degree, extent, limit; degree (temperature, angle, etc.); (classifier) time, occasion (for events)
Definition
度 (dù) has several distinct uses: a verb 'to spend/pass (time)', a noun for 'degree/extent' (like 程度 but more abstract), and a classifier counting events ('twice' = 两次). Don't confuse it with 角度 ('angle/perspective') or 范围 ('range/scope').
verb
to spend (time)to pass (time)
noun
degreeextentlimitdegree (temperature, angle, etc.)
classifier
timeoccasion (for events)
Measure word · 次
Examples
- 。Tā dù guò le zuì kùn nan de yì nián.He got through the most difficult year.
- 度。Tā céng jīng liǎng dù cān jiā guó jì bǐ sài.He has participated in international competitions twice.
- 度，。Zuò shì qing yào yǒu dù, bù néng tài guò fèn.When doing things, you need to have a sense of measure and not go too far.
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.
度 has 又 (hand) and a changed form of 石; 石 gives a related sound, and the hand is tied to using the hand as a reference for measurement.
Appears in
Browse more HSK 5 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.