How to Write 杜 (dù) — Meaning “to prevent; surname Du”

Picture a wooden post (木) stuck firmly into the ground (土) to block a road. This image of a barrier helps you recall that 杜 means 'to prevent' or 'to block'.

Write 木 first (left side), then 土 on the right. The vertical stroke of 木 goes through the horizontal line, and the 土 should be slightly narrower and shorter than the 木. A common mistake is making the two parts uneven in size.

杜 is a left-right compound with 木 on the left and 土 on the right, while 未 and 末 are single characters. 未 (wèi) means 'not yet' and its top horizontal is shorter than the bottom; 末 (mò) means 'end' and its top horizontal is longer. In contrast, 杜 clearly has two separate parts.

杜 is common as a surname (e.g., 杜先生, Mr. Du). It also appears in words like 杜绝 (to put an end to) and 杜鹃 (cuckoo bird or azalea flower). The word 杜鹃 has cultural importance in Chinese poetry, often symbolizing longing or spring.

Common words containing 杜 include: 杜绝 (dù jué) — to put an end to; to eliminate; 杜鹃 (dù juān) — cuckoo; azalea; 杜先生 (dù xiān shēng) — Mr. Du.