舵 meaning and stroke order
Helm, rudder
How to write 舵, stroke by stroke
11 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
- 11
Meaning of 舵
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- helm
- rudder
How 舵 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Boat.
舟 gives the meaning and 它 hints at the sound.
Radical: 舟 (boat), shared by 35 characters on this site.
How to remember 舵
The left side 舟 (zhōu) means boat, and the right side 它 (tā) gives a hint of the sound. Picture the part of a boat that you grab to steer it, and you have 舵 (duò), the rudder.
舵 (duò) usually appears in words about steering, such as 掌舵 (zhǎngduò) and 舵手 (duòshǒu). These words are often used figuratively for leading a company or a country. Example: 他在公司里掌舵。(Tā zài gōngsī lǐ zhǎngduò.) He is the one steering the company.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes read 舵 as tā because of the phonetic part 它, but the correct reading is duò with a falling fourth tone. Also do not confuse it with 驼 (tuó, camel), which has the same right side but 马 on the left.
Common words with 舵
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 舵手 | duòshǒu | helmsman | HSK 7-9 |
| 掌舵 | zhǎngduò | to steer (a ship) | |
| 操舵 | cāoduò | to steer (a vessel); to hold the rudder | |
| 满舵 | mǎnduò | on full rudder; turning as sharply as possible |
Questions about 舵
How many strokes are in 舵?
舵 is written with 11 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 舵 mean?
舵 (duò) means helm, rudder. A common word with it is 舵手 (duòshǒu), meaning "helmsman".
How do you pronounce 舵?
舵 is pronounced duò, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 舵?
The radical of 舵 is 舟, which carries the idea of "boat". Dictionaries list 舵 under this radical.
Is 舵 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 舵 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 舵 and 方向盘?
舵 (duò) is the rudder or helm of a boat or ship. 方向盘 (fāngxiàngpán) is the steering wheel of a car. For vehicles on land, use 方向盘.
Can 舵手 describe a leader, not just a sailor?
Yes. 舵手 (duòshǒu) literally means helmsman, but it is often used in formal or political writing for a leader who guides a group or nation. 掌舵 (zhǎngduò) is used the same way for taking charge.