逮 meaning and stroke order
(coll.) to catch; to seize; to capture
How to write 逮, 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.
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Meaning of 逮
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- (coll.) to catch; to seize; to capture
- (literary) to reach
- used in 逮捕[dai4 bu3] (Taiwan pr. [dai3])
How 逮 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Walk.
辶 gives the meaning and 隶 hints at the sound.
Radical: 辶 (to walk), shared by 131 characters on this site.
How to remember 逮
The walking radical 辶 (walk) carries 隶 (lì), which gives the sound. Picture someone walking fast after a runaway until they catch up and grab them.
In everyday speech 逮 (dǎi) means to catch something or someone, like a cat catching a mouse or catching a person in the act. In the formal word 逮捕 (dàibǔ) it is read dài and means to arrest. Example: 猫逮住了一只老鼠。 (Māo dǎi zhù le yì zhī lǎoshǔ.) The cat caught a mouse.
Common mistake: Learners often read 逮捕 as dǎibǔ, but in mainland standard Mandarin it is dàibǔ. Only Taiwan uses dǎibǔ. Also do not confuse 逮 with 速 (sù, fast), which shares the 辶 radical but has 束 inside.
Common words with 逮
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 逮捕 | dàibǔ | to arrest; to apprehend; to take into custody; Taiwan pr. [dai3bu3] | HSK 7-9 |
逮 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 逮
How many strokes are in 逮?
逮 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 逮 mean?
逮 (dǎi) means (coll.) to catch; to seize; to capture. A common word with it is 逮捕 (dàibǔ), meaning "to arrest; to apprehend; to take into custody; Taiwan pr. [dai3bu3]".
How do you pronounce 逮?
逮 is pronounced dǎi, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 逮?
The radical of 逮 is 辶, which carries the idea of "to walk". Dictionaries list 逮 under this radical.
Is 逮 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 逮 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
When do I say dǎi and when do I say dài?
Use dǎi for the colloquial verb 'to catch', as in 逮住 (dǎi zhù) or 逮人 (dǎi rén). Use dài in the formal compound 逮捕 (dàibǔ) and in literary phrases meaning 'to reach'.
What is the difference between 逮 and 抓 (zhuā)?
Both can mean to catch, and 抓 is more common and neutral. 逮 (dǎi) sounds more colloquial and often implies chasing and finally catching someone, especially in northern speech.