提到 (tí dào) — to mention, to refer to, to bring up (a subject) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

提到 means to bring up or mention a topic in conversation or writing — the everyday verb for introducing a subject. More written/formal than 提起, and broader than 提 (which also means to physically lift or carry).

verb

to mentionto refer toto bring up (a subject)

Examples

提到。
Tā zài huì yì shàng tí dào le zhè ge jì huà.
He mentioned this plan at the meeting.
提到？
Nǐ yǐ qián tí dào guò tā de míng zì ma?
Have you mentioned her name before?
提到。
Wǒ men zài tǎo lùn zhōng tí dào le nà ge wèn tí.
We mentioned that problem during the discussion.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

提 and 到 combine: raising something until it is reached means mentioning it.

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.

扌是提

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

是

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

提 shows 扌 (hand) beside 是, which gives the pronunciation.

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.

Appears in

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