逃脱 (táo tuō) — to escape, to get away from

Definition

A verb meaning to succeed in escaping — emphasizes that the escape was achieved, not merely attempted. Often used in contexts like prison, danger, or pursuit, and pairs naturally with 从 + location.

verb
to escapeto get away from
Easily confused

Examples

  • 逃脱。
    Tā cóng jiān yù lǐ táo tuō le.
    He escaped from prison.
  • ，逃脱。
    Zài huǒ zāi zhōng, tā xìng yùn dì táo tuō le.
    He luckily escaped in the fire.
  • ，逃脱。
    Jǐng chá zhuī le hěn jiǔ, dàn huài rén hái shì táo tuō le.
    The police chased for a long time, but the bad guy still escaped.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

逃táoflee
脱tuōget free

Fleeing plus getting free gives the sense of escaping successfully.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辶Written in full as辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
兆
兆zhào逃táo
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

逃 pairs 辶 (walk) with 兆, which gives the pronunciation.

Open 逃 →

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 →
Appears in
Crime & Police5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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