Definition
吊 (diào) has two distinct meanings: 'to hang/suspend' and 'to offer condolences/mourn.' For hanging, 吊 is the everyday verb (e.g., hang clothes on a hanger), while 悬 (xuán) and 悬挂 (xuán guà) are more formal or literary. For mourning, 吊 focuses on visiting the bereaved to express sympathy, whereas 悼念 (dào niàn) and 追悼 (zhuī dào) are more formal, often for public memorials.
verb
to hangto suspendto condoleto mourn
Easily confused
- 常chánglook-alikeoften; frequently
- 掉diàosound-aliketo fall; to drop
- 布bùlook-alikecloth; fabric
- 调diàosound-alike(verb) to transfer, to move (troops, cadres, personnel)
- 调diàosound-aliketo transfer, to move (people, troops, or resources) from one place to another
- 叼diāosound-aliketo hold in one's mouth (as a cigarette, bone, or object)
- 雕diāosound-aliketo carve, to engrave
Examples
- 吊。Tā bǎ máojīn diào zài shéngzi shang.He hung the towel on the rope.
- ，。Tā qùshì le, hěnduō péngyou lái diàoyàn tā.He passed away, and many friends came to mourn him.
- 吊。Qǐng bǎ dēnglong diào zài ménkǒu.Please hang the lantern at the door.
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