How to Write 陀 (tuó) — Meaning “steep / (used in transliterations)”

Picture a spinning top (陀螺) balancing on a steep hill (the 阝 radical). The right part 它 looks like the top's handle. This visual helps associate the character with its common word 陀螺 (spinning top).

Write the left ear radical (阝) first—it is narrow and tall, with a curved stroke then a straight vertical line. Then write the right part 它: start with two dots and a horizontal hook (like a roof), then a leftward stroke and a vertical hook at the bottom. A common mistake is making the right part too wide or forgetting the hook at the end.

All three have the left ear radical (阝), but the right parts differ: 陀 has 它 (tā), 邗 has 干 (gān), and 邘 has 于 (yú). 陀 is used in words like 陀螺 (top) and 佛陀 (Buddha), while 邗 and 邘 are rare place names in Chinese history. Visually, 陀 has a dot on top (from 宀), unlike the other two.

陀 rarely appears alone; it is mainly used in compound words like 陀螺 (spinning top), a traditional toy, and 佛陀 (Buddha), a key Buddhist term from Sanskrit. In technology, 陀螺仪 (gyroscope) is a common scientific term. Culturally, 佛陀 is very important in Buddhism, and 陀螺 is a nostalgic children's toy.

Common words containing 陀 include: 陀螺 (tuó luó) — spinning top; 佛陀 (fó tuó) — Buddha; 陀螺仪 (tuó luó yí) — gyroscope.