How to Write 渡 (dù) — Meaning “To cross a river or ferry”

Picture a ferry boat (氵) carrying a person who is checking the water depth with a measuring stick (度). This image links the water radical to the action of crossing and the right side 度 which contains a similar measuring idea.

The left radical 氵 should be written narrower and slightly higher than the right part 度. A common mistake is making the 广 component in 度 too wide, so keep the top dot and left stroke compact to balance the character.

渡 means specifically 'to cross a river by ferry' or 'to go through a transition', while 流 means 'to flow' like water moving. 浙 is a proper noun for the Zhejiang river or province and is not used as a verb. Visually, 渡 has the right side 度, 流 has 㐬, and 浙 has 折.

渡 is used for physical river crossings like 渡江 (cross a river) and abstract transitions like 过渡 (transition). In Chinese culture, crossing a river often symbolizes overcoming difficulties, and 渡 appears in idioms such as 渡过难关 (get through a tough time).

Common words containing 渡 include: 渡口 (dù kǒu) — Ferry crossing or pier; 过渡 (guò dù) — transition; 渡江 (dù jiāng) — To cross a river.