How to Write 柁 (duò) — Meaning “Large beam (in architecture).”

Picture the right side 它 as a tall person standing under a heavy wooden beam (木). The dot on top of 它 looks like a person's head supporting the beam, and the two dots below are the arms holding it up. This image reminds you that 柁 is a large beam that carries the weight of a roof.

Write the left radical 木 first: horizontal stroke, vertical stroke, then left and right diagonal strokes. The right side 它 starts with a dot, a second dot, then a horizontal stroke, a vertical stroke, a horizontal stroke, and a vertical hook. A common mistake is making the right side too wide—keep it narrow so the character stays balanced.

柁 (duò) refers to a large roof beam, while 杆 (gān) means a pole or rod, and 杈 (chà) means a fork or branch. Visually, 柁 has 它 on the right, 杆 has 干 (which looks like a straight pole), and 杈 has 叉 (which looks like a fork). Their meanings are distinct due to these different right-side components.

柁 is not a common everyday character and is mainly found in traditional architecture or historical texts. It appears in words like 房柁 (roof beam) and 柁梁 (main roof beam) when describing wooden structures. Culturally, it highlights the importance of strong wooden beams in ancient Chinese buildings like temples and halls.

Common words containing 柁 include: 房柁 (fáng duò) — roof beam; 柁墩 (duò dūn) — Beam block (a support block in traditional Chinese architecture).; 柁梁 (duò liáng) — Main roof beam..