弔 meaning and stroke order
To suspend, to hang; to pity, to condole
How to write 弔, stroke by stroke
4 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
Meaning of 弔
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- a string of 100 cash (arch.)
- to lament
- to condole with
- variant of 吊[diao4]
How 弔 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A corpse 弓 hanged on a rope 丨.
Radical: 弓 (bow), shared by 29 characters on this site.
How to remember 弔
Picture a bent body 弓 hanging from a vertical rope 丨 that runs right through it. That grim image of something hung up leads to both meanings: to hang and to mourn.
弔 is mostly seen as the traditional or variant form of 吊 (diào), especially in the sense of mourning, as in 弔唁 (diàoyàn, to offer condolences). In mainland simplified writing, 吊 is used instead for both hanging and condoling. Example: 他去弔唁死者的家人。 (Tā qù diàoyàn sǐzhě de jiārén.) He went to offer condolences to the family of the deceased.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 弔 with 弟 (dì, younger brother), since both are built on 弓. Check the top: 弟 has two short dots and extra strokes, while 弔 is just 弓 with one line through it.
Questions about 弔
How many strokes are in 弔?
弔 is written with 4 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 弔 mean?
弔 (diào) means to suspend, to hang; to pity, to condole.
How do you pronounce 弔?
弔 is pronounced diào, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 弔?
The radical of 弔 is 弓, which carries the idea of "bow". Dictionaries list 弔 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 弔?
弔 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 吊, used in mainland China and Singapore.
Should I write 弔 or 吊?
In mainland China, use 吊 for everything. 弔 appears in Taiwan, Hong Kong and older texts, mainly for mourning words like 弔唁 and 弔祭.
What does 弔 mean as a unit of money?
In older Chinese, 弔 could mean a string of copper cash coins tied together, typically 100 cash according to this dictionary. You will only see this in historical texts or classical novels.