窦 meaning and stroke order
Sinuses; corrupt; surname
How to write 窦, 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 窦
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- (literary) hole; aperture
- (anatomy) cavity; sinus
How 窦 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. To buy someone off 卖; a nose-hole 穴.
Radical: 穴 (cave), shared by 46 characters on this site.
How to remember 窦
Picture a hole 穴 (xué) on top of 卖 (mài, to sell). Think of a shady deal done through a hidden hole, or simply remember that 窦 is a hole or cavity, like the sinuses in your nose.
Today 窦 mostly appears in medical words for body cavities and as a surname. A common example is 鼻窦炎 (bí dòu yán), sinusitis. It also shows up in the idiom 疑窦 (yí dòu), a point of doubt or suspicion.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up the bottom part 卖 (mài, sell) with 买 (mǎi, buy), which is missing the 十 on top. Another trap is reading 窦 as dǒu or dū. It is always fourth tone, dòu.
Questions about 窦
How many strokes are in 窦?
窦 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 窦 mean?
窦 (dòu) means sinuses; corrupt; surname.
How do you pronounce 窦?
窦 is pronounced dòu, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 窦?
The radical of 窦 is 穴, which carries the idea of "cave". Dictionaries list 窦 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 窦?
The traditional form of 窦 is 竇. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 窦 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
How do you say sinusitis in Chinese?
Sinusitis is 鼻窦炎 (bí dòu yán). 鼻 means nose, 窦 means cavity, and 炎 means inflammation. You will hear this word at the doctor or on medicine labels.
Is 窦 a common Chinese surname?
窦 (Dòu) is a real surname but not a very common one. A well-known example is the singer 窦唯 (Dòu Wéi). When used as a name it is still read dòu.