TongTong
Sign in

脱帽 (tuō mào) — to doff one's hat (in respect), to take off one's hat as a token of respect

Definition

A fixed formal verb meaning to remove one's hat as a sign of respect, greeting, or tribute. Almost always used in solemn or ceremonial contexts (e.g. 脱帽致敬, 脱帽致意), not in casual everyday speech.

verb
to doff one's hat (in respect), to take off one's hat as a token of respect

Examples

  • ，。
    Tā zài huì shàng tuō le mào, xiàng lǎo shī biǎo shì jìng yì.
    He took off his hat at the meeting to show respect to the teacher.
  • 脱帽。
    Guān zhòng fēn fēn tuō mào zhì yì.
    The audience doffed their hats in greeting.
  • 脱帽。
    Wǒ men xiàng yīng xióng tuō mào zhì jìng.
    We doff our hats to the hero.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

脱tuōtake off
帽màohat

“脱” means take off and “帽” is hat, giving the action of taking off a hat.

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 脫; 脱 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺼Written in full as肉ròu
Sound part声符shēngfú
兌
兌duì脫tuō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 脫 puts ⺼ (meat) beside 兌, which gives the sound; the simplified 脱 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical pieces.

Open 脱 →

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
巾巾jīncloth
Sound part声符shēngfú
冒
冒mào帽mào
Same sound today

帽 uses 巾 (cloth) for the meaning and 冒 for the sound. The earlier form 冃 was later written with 目 and 巾 added.

Open 帽 →
Appears in
Footwear & AccessoriesGreetings & Politeness

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.