套 meaning and stroke order
To cover; to encase; cover
How to write 套, stroke by stroke
10 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
Meaning of 套
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to cover
- to encase
- cover
- sheath
- to overlap
- to interleave
How 套 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A man 大 wrapped in a long 镸 cloth .
Radical: 大 (big), shared by 46 characters on this site.
How to remember 套
A person 大 standing on top, wrapped in a long 镸 cloth below. Think of someone pulling a long cover over themselves, which is what 套 (tào) means: a cover or case that goes over something.
套 is used for covers you put things into, like 外套 (wàitào, coat) and 手套 (shǒutào, glove). It is also a very common measure word for sets, suits, and apartments. Example: 我买了一套新衣服。(Wǒ mǎi le yī tào xīn yīfu.) I bought a new set of clothes.
Common mistake: Learners often forget that the bottom part is 镸, not 長 or 長 squeezed in, and write the strokes as a full 長. Also do not confuse 套 (tào) with 奎 (kuí), which has 大 on top too but 圭 underneath.
Common words with 套
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 外套 | wàitào | outer garment; jacket; coat | HSK 4 |
| 手套 | shǒutào | glove; mitten | HSK 4 |
| 套餐 | tàocān | set meal; (fig.) product or service package (e.g. for a cell phone subscription) | HSK 4 |
| 配套 | pèitào | to form a complete set; compatible | HSK 5 |
| 圈套 | quāntào | trap; snare; trick | HSK 7-9 |
| 跑龙套 | pǎo lóngtào | to play a small role | HSK 7-9 |
| 一套 | yītào | suit; a set | |
| 套房 | tàofáng | small room opening off another; inner room; suite; apartment; flat | |
| 避孕套 | bìyùntào | condom | |
| 老套 | lǎotào | hackneyed; well-worn (phrase etc) | |
| 套装 | tàozhuāng | outfit or suit (of clothes); set of coordinated items | |
| 安全套 | ānquántào | condom | |
| 全套 | quántào | complete set; full complement | |
| 乱套 | luàntào | in a mess; upside down |
套 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 套
How many strokes are in 套?
套 is written with 10 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 套 mean?
套 (tào) means to cover; to encase; cover. A common word with it is 外套 (wàitào), meaning "outer garment; jacket; coat".
How do you pronounce 套?
套 is pronounced tào, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 套?
The radical of 套 is 大, which carries the idea of "big". Dictionaries list 套 under this radical.
Is 套 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 套 is part of the HSK 2 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
How is 套 used as a measure word?
Use 套 for things that come as a matching set or unit, such as 一套西装 (yī tào xīzhuāng, a suit), 一套书 (yī tào shū, a set of books), or 一套房子 (yī tào fángzi, an apartment).
What does 套 mean in phrases like 套话 or 圈套?
套 can carry the idea of a trap or a set formula. 圈套 (quāntào) is a snare or trick, and 套话 (tàohuà) can mean empty polite formulas or coaxing information out of someone.