to tremble, to shake, to rouse

JLPT N5 7 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Meaning and Usage

The verb (dǒu) primarily means 'to tremble' or 'to shake.' It can describe a person or animal physically trembling due to cold, fear, or nervousness. It also commonly means 'to shake off' something like dust or water from an object.

Common Collocations

  • (dǒu yī dǒu): to shake something lightly, often used with clothes or blankets.
  • (dǒudòng): to vibrate or shake repeatedly.

Usage Notes

When used for people, often implies involuntary trembling, such as from cold or fear. When used with objects, it usually means to shake off dust or water. It is a neutral verb and common in both spoken and written Chinese.

Avoiding Confusion

Do not confuse with (yáo), which means 'to shake' but often implies deliberate or larger movements, like shaking a bottle or a hand. usually refers to smaller, quicker shakes or trembles.

Example Sentences

He kept trembling because of nervousness.

Please shake off the dust on the clothes.

He shook the blanket hard to let the dust fall off.