Definition
倒 (dǎo) is a versatile verb meaning 'to fall, topple, or collapse' — it covers physical falling (a person, a wall) and figurative failure (a business, a plan). For a business failing, 倒闭 (dǎo bì) is more specific (a company closing down), while 破产 (pò chǎn) focuses on the legal/financial bankruptcy. For physical collapse of structures, 倒塌 (dǎo tā) is the precise compound.
verb
to fallto topple (physically)to collapse (buildings, structures)to failto go bankrupt
Easily confused
- 到dàolook-alike(verb) to arrive at, to reach (a place or time)
- 道dàosound-alike(noun) road, path; principle, morality; method, skill; the Dao (of Daoism)
- 岛dǎosound-alikeisland
- 刀dāosound-alikeknife; blade
- 盗dàosound-aliketo steal, to rob, to plunder (formal; often used in compounds)
Examples
- 倒。Tā bù xiǎoxīn dǎo zài le xuědì lǐ.He accidentally fell in the snowy ground.
- 倒。Nà dǔ lǎo qiáng tūrán dǎo le.That old wall suddenly collapsed.
- 倒，。Tā kāi de diàn dǎo le, tā hěn nánguò.The shop he ran went bankrupt, and he was very sad.
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