How to Write 牍 (dú) — Meaning “Writing tablet / Document”

Imagine a wooden tablet (片) that you sell (卖) to someone for writing official documents. Or think: "A tablet (片) for sale (卖) is a document." The connection between the left radical and the right component helps link the shape to the meaning.

The left radical 片 is narrow and has four strokes; start with a left-falling stroke, then horizontal, vertical, and a right-falling stroke. The right side 卖 is wider and ends with 大 (big) at the bottom, not 木 (tree). A common mistake is making the left part too wide or confusing the right part with 买 (to buy).

All share the left radical 片 (tablet), but the right sides differ: 牍 has 卖 (sell), 牌 has 卑 (humble), and 牒 has 枼 (leaf). 牍 specifically means wooden tablets or documents, while 牌 means a plaque or brand, and 牒 refers to official records or registers in ancient contexts. Pay attention to the right component to tell them apart.

牍 is not common in everyday conversation, but appears in formal or literary words like 文牍 (official documents) and 尺牍 (letters/correspondence). Culturally, it recalls ancient Chinese writing on bamboo or wooden slips, especially 木牍 (wooden tablets) used before paper became widespread.

Common words containing 牍 include: 木牍 (mù dú) — wooden tablets; 文牍 (wén dú) — Official documents; 尺牍 (chǐ dú) — correspondence; letters.