How to Write 度 (dù/duó) — Meaning “Degree; measure; to spend (time)”

Imagine a roof (广) covering twenty (廿) hands (又) all measuring something at once. This picture of many hands measuring under a roof helps you recall that 度 means degree, measure, or to spend time.

Start with the radical 广 (3 strokes: dot, horizontal, left sweep), then write the middle part 廿 (4 strokes: horizontal, vertical, horizontal, vertical), and finish with 又 (2 strokes). Keep the 廿 compact and centered under the roof to avoid making the character too wide.

度 and 庇 both have the radical 广, but 庇 has a bottom part 比 (two knives) meaning shelter, while 度 has 廿 (twenty) and 又 (hand). Visually, 庇 is flatter, and 度 has more strokes—just remember that 度 involves hands measuring, while 庇 is about protection.

度 is common as a noun meaning degree, level, or speed, such as in 程度 (level) and 速度 (speed). It is also a verb meaning to spend time, like in 度假 (take a vacation) or 度过 (to pass time). You’ll see it in everyday topics like measuring temperature, alcohol content (度数), or describing time passing.

Common words containing 度 include: 程度 (chéng dù) — degree; level; extent; 速度 (sù dù) — speed; 揣度 (chuǎi duó) — to surmise; to conjecture; to estimate.