感到 (gǎn dào) — to feel (an emotion, sensation, or perception)

Definition

感到 (gǎndào) is a slightly more formal 'to feel' for emotions and sensations. Use it in writing; in everyday speech, 觉得 is more common and natural.

verb

to feel (an emotion, sensation, or perception)

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

Feel 感 plus arrive 到 gives the sense of perceiving something.

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.

咸心感

Meaning part形符xíngfú

心心xīnheart

Sound part声符shēngfú

咸

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

感 pairs 咸, which gives the sound, with 心, the heart, for feeling.

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

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.

Appears in