Definition
掉 (diào) has three main uses: (1) 'to fall/drop' (杯子掉在地上); (2) 'to lose/go missing' (钱包掉了); (3) as a resultative complement after verbs, meaning the action is completed, removed, or changes state (扔掉 'throw away'). As a complement, it contrasts with 起来 (qǐlái), which indicates upward movement or beginning. For losing things, 掉 is more casual than 失踪 (shīzōng), which is used for people or formal disappearances.
verb
to fallto dropto loseto go missing(used after certain verbs as a resultative complement) indicating completionremovalor a change of state
Easily confused
- 罩zhàolook-aliketo cover, to envelop
- 调diàosound-alike(verb) to transfer, to move (troops, cadres, personnel)
- 草cǎolook-alikegrass (the plant or material); straw
- 调diàosound-aliketo transfer, to move (people, troops, or resources) from one place to another
- 吊diàosound-aliketo hang, to suspend
- 叼diāosound-aliketo hold in one's mouth (as a cigarette, bone, or object)
- 雕diāosound-aliketo carve, to engrave
Examples
- 掉。Bēizi diào zài dì shàng le.The cup fell on the floor.
- 掉。Wǒ de qiánbāo diào le.I lost my wallet.
- 。Wǒ bǎ lājī rēng diào le.I threw away the trash.
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