掉 (diào) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 掉 (diào) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 掉 (diào) means "to fall; to drop; to lose". It is an HSK Level 2 character, with 11 strokes and the radical 扌.

Q: How do you write 掉 stroke by stroke?

掉 has 11 strokes. The radical is 扌. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 掉 and 拜?

掉 (diào) and 拜 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 掉?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 扌. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 掉?

Common words containing 掉 include: 掉下 (diào xià) — to fall down; to drop down; 忘掉 (wàng diào) — To forget / to drop; 掉头 (diào tóu) — to make a U-turn.

How to Write 掉

The character 掉 (diào) is written with 11 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 扌 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

掉 is pronounced diào in Mandarin Chinese. It means to fall; to drop; to lose.

As an HSK Level 2 character, 掉 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Common Words with 掉

掉下 diào xià

to fall down; to drop down

忘掉 wàng diào

To forget / to drop

掉头 diào tóu

to make a U-turn

Example Sentences

苹果从树上掉下来了。

píng guǒ cóng shù shàng diào xià lái le

The apple fell from the tree.

请不要忘掉这件事。

qǐng bú yào wàng diào zhè jiàn shì

Please don't forget this.

司机在路口掉头。

sī jī zài lù kǒu diào tóu

The driver made a U-turn at the intersection.

Similar Characters

拜 bài

括 kuò

拭 shì

Practice Writing 掉 (diào)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 掉 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 掉

What does 掉 (diào) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 掉 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 掉 and 拜?

What mistakes do learners make writing 掉?

What common words use 掉?

How to Write 掉 (diào)