How to Write 梼 (táo) — Meaning “block of wood or ignorant”

Imagine a wooden block (木) that is so old it has a long life (寿), but it still knows nothing — it is ignorant. This picture of an ancient, clueless piece of wood helps you link the shape to the meaning "block of wood" or "ignorant".

Write the left radical 木 first with its standard strokes: horizontal, vertical, left-falling, right-falling. Then write the right part 寿, being careful with its top horizontal strokes and the final dot — do not add extra strokes or confuse the right side with 古 or 平.

枯 (kū) means withered and has 木 with 古 (ancient) on the right. 枰 (píng) means chessboard and has 木 with 平 (flat). 梼 (táo) has 木 with 寿 (longevity) and means a block of wood or ignorant. The different right-side components change both pronunciation and meaning.

梼 is very rare in everyday modern Chinese. It appears mostly in classical texts or mythology, especially in the word 梼杌 (táo wù) — a legendary monster symbolizing ignorance and chaos. You might also see it in literary words like 梼昧 (táo mèi) meaning ignorant and benighted.

Common words containing 梼 include: 梼杌 (táo wù) — Taowu (a legendary monster); 梼昧 (táo mèi) — ignorant and benighted; 梼木 (táo mù) — a block of wood.