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独到 (dú dào) — unique; distinctive; original

Definition

独到 means 'original and penetrating' — used for insights, viewpoints, or styles that go beyond the ordinary (见解独到, 独到的风格). Stronger and more admiring than plain 特别 or 不同; it praises depth, not just novelty.

adjective
uniquedistinctiveoriginal

Examples

  • 独到。
    Tā tí chū le yí gè hěn dú dào de guān diǎn.
    He put forward a very original viewpoint.
  • 独到。
    Tā de shè jì fāng àn yǒu dú dào de fēng gé.
    Her design scheme has a unique style.
  • 独到，。
    Zhè piān wén zhāng jiàn jiě dú dào, zhí dé yì dú.
    This article has distinctive insights and is worth reading.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

独dúunique
到dàoreach

独 means unique and 到 means reach, together suggesting a uniquely reached insight.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 獨; 独 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
犭Written in full as犬quǎn
Sound part声符shēngfú
蜀
蜀shǔ獨dú
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 獨 pairs 犬 (dog) with 蜀, which gives the sound; the simplified 独 is a shorthand.

Open 独 →

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.

Open 到 →
Appears in
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