督 meaning and stroke order
To supervise, to oversee, to direct
How to write 督, stroke by stroke
13 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 督
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- (bound form) to supervise
How 督 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Eye.
目 gives the meaning and 叔 hints at the sound.
Radical: 目 (eye), shared by 100 characters on this site.
How to remember 督
督 has 叔 (shū) on top as the sound part and 目 (mù, eye) below as the meaning part. Picture keeping a watchful eye on someone's work, which is what supervising is.
督 is a bound form, so it almost always appears inside words like 监督 (jiāndū, to supervise) and 督促 (dūcù, to urge on). It also shows up in titles such as 总督 (zǒngdū, governor-general) and in 基督教 (Jīdūjiào, Christianity). Example: 老师督促我们按时交作业。(Lǎoshī dūcù wǒmen ànshí jiāo zuòyè.) The teacher urges us to hand in homework on time.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes read 督 as shū because of the 叔 on top, but it is pronounced dū, in the first tone. Also do not use 督 alone as a verb. Say 监督 instead.
Common words with 督
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 基督教 | Jīdūjiào | Christianity | HSK 6 |
| 监督 | jiāndū | to supervise; to oversee; to inspect | HSK 6 |
| 督促 | dūcù | to supervise and urge completion of a task; to urge on | HSK 7-9 |
| 督察 | dūchá | to supervise; to superintend | |
| 总督 | zǒngdū | governor-general; viceroy | |
| 提督 | tídū | the local commander; provincial governor (in Qing and Ming times) |
督 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 督
How many strokes are in 督?
督 is written with 13 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 督 mean?
督 (dū) means to supervise, to oversee, to direct. A common word with it is 基督教 (Jīdūjiào), meaning "Christianity".
How do you pronounce 督?
督 is pronounced dū, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 督?
The radical of 督 is 目, which carries the idea of "eye". Dictionaries list 督 under this radical.
Is 督 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 督 is part of the HSK 6 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
Why is 督 in the word for Christianity?
In 基督 (Jīdū, Christ), 督 is used for its sound to transliterate the name Christ. Here it has nothing to do with supervising.
What is the difference between 监督 and 督促?
监督 (jiāndū) means to watch over or inspect, to make sure rules are followed. 督促 (dūcù) means to push someone to get a task done, so it focuses on urging action.