Definition
逗 (dòu) has two uses: as a verb meaning 'tease playfully' or 'entice', and as an adjective meaning 'funny, amusing'. For teasing, it's more casual than 调侃 (witty banter); for enticing, it's lighter than 诱惑 (strong temptation) or 引诱 (negative seduction). As 'funny', it's informal and warm, unlike 可笑 (ridiculous) or 滑稽 (slapstick).
verb
to tease playfullyto entice(adjective, colloquial) funnyamusing
Easily confused
- 追zhuīlook-aliketo chase; to pursue (physically or metaphorically)
- 都dōusound-alike(adverb) all, both (indicates totality)
- 斗dòusound-aliketo fight (physically, verbally, or psychologically)
- 兜dōusound-alike(noun) pocket; small bag (as in clothing or accessories)
- 抖dǒusound-aliketo tremble, to shake (from cold, fear, etc.)
- 陡dǒusound-alikesteep, precipitous
Examples
- 逗，。Nǐ bié dòu xiǎo māo, tā huì shēngqì de.Don't tease the kitten — it'll get angry.
- 逗，。Zhège gùshì zhēn dòu, dàjiā dōu xiào le.This story is really funny — everyone laughed.
- 逗。Tā yòng táng dòu xiǎohái guòlái.She enticed the child over with candy.
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