舵 (duò) - Rudder & helm

舵Tone 4

duò ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

丁恩

舵 · duò

Rudder;

helm;

steering wheel;

that which controls the direction of a vessel or vehicle.

Rudderhelmsteering wheel

Usage highlights

Ship's rudderTake the helmSteering wheelRudder bladeRudder stockSteering gear

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 帆— sail (provides propulsion, not direction)
  • 锚— anchor (fixes in place, opposite of steering)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The captain turned the ship's rudder (船舵).
  • He took the helm (掌舵) during the crisis.
  • The steering wheel (方向盘) of a car is also called a 舵 in some contexts.
  • The pilot adjusted the aircraft's control surfaces (方向舵).

Collocations

  • Ship's rudder(船舵)
  • Take the helm(掌舵)
  • Steering wheel(方向盘)
  • Rudder blade(舵叶)
  • Rudder stock(舵杆)
  • Steering gear(舵机)

Idioms

  • See the wind to set the helm(见风使舵)
  • Take the helm at a critical moment(临危掌舵)
  • A thousand-ton ship is controlled by a single rudder(千斤之船，一舵主之)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character 舵 is central to maritime culture, symbolizing control, guidance, and leadership.
  • In metaphorical use, 'taking the helm' (掌舵) signifies assuming a leadership role or responsibility.
  • The idiom 'see the wind to set the helm' (见风使舵) carries a negative connotation of opportunism.

FAQ