HSK · Level 118
45 words
Chinese word
淘
Pronunciation
Pinyintáo
Meaning
- verbwash
Example
妈妈在淘米。mā mā zài táo mǐ
Mom is washing rice.
More examples
许多选手在比赛中被淘汰。xǔ duō xuán shǒu zài bǐ sài zhōng bèi táo tài
Many players were eliminated in the competition.
Core concept
Separate useful things from unwanted matter by washing, searching, or screening.
Common phrases
淘米táo mǐ
wash rice
淘汰táo tài
eliminate
被淘汰bèi táo tài
be eliminated
Similar words
洗xǐ: Wash something with water or soap to get rid of dirt.
冲chōng: Use a strong flow of water to wash dirt or powder off something.
Definition in Chinese
用水洗去米等食物表面的泥沙和细小杂质，也可引申为通过筛选排除不合格者。yòng shuí xǐ qù mǐ děng shí wù biǎo miàn de ní shā hé xì xiǎo zá zhì yě kě yǐn shēn wèi tōng guò shāi xuǎn pái chú bù hé gé zhě
Word origin
The water radical in 淘 (táo, "wash and sift") pairs with 匋 (táo, "pottery"), a phonetic component, fitting the move from washing grit out of food to sorting out unsuitable items.
Usage tips
- 淘宝 (Táobǎo, "search for treasures") provides a familiar cultural connection: its name presents shopping as looking through many things to find something valuable.