to cross, to ferry over, to pass through

JLPT N5 12 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Meaning and Usage

The character primarily means "to cross" or "to ferry over" a physical barrier such as a river, road, or sea. It often implies movement from one side to another, either by walking, boat, or other means.

Common Contexts

is frequently used in contexts involving crossing rivers (), streets (马路), or other obstacles. It can also be used metaphorically to mean "to get through" or "to pass over" difficulties.

Collocations and Patterns

  • (dù hé): to cross a river
  • 难关 (dù guò nán guān): to overcome difficulties
  • (dù chuán): ferry boat

Usage Notes

is a formal or literary word often used in written Chinese and formal speech. In casual conversation, people might use or instead when talking about crossing streets or rivers. It is important not to confuse with , which is more general for "passing" but does not specifically imply crossing a physical barrier.

Common Confusion

Don't confuse with (héngguò), which also means "to cross" but emphasizes crossing horizontally, often used for roads. has a stronger sense of crossing water or significant obstacles.

Example Sentences

We need to cross the river to reach the village on the other side.

He helped the elderly person cross the street.

This boat can ferry passengers to the opposite shore.