逗 (dòu) - to stay & to stop

逗Tone 4

dòu ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

丁恩

逗 · dòu

to stay;

to stop;

to linger;

to amuse;

to provoke laughter;

a pause in Chinese punctuation

to stayto stopto linger

Usage highlights

to stay temporarilyto amuseto teaseto jokecomma punctuation markto provoke

Synonyms

  • 留— to stay
  • 停— to stop
  • 戏— to play, to joke

Antonyms

  • 走— to leave
  • 行— to go
  • 严— serious, stern

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Please stay here for a while (请在这里逗留一会儿).
  • The clown amused the children (小丑逗孩子们开心).
  • This is a teasing joke (这是个逗笑的玩笑).
  • There should be a comma here (这里应该用逗号).

Collocations

  • to stay temporarily(逗留)
  • to amuse(逗乐)
  • to tease(逗弄)
  • to joke(逗笑)
  • comma punctuation mark(逗号)
  • to provoke(逗引)

Idioms

  • To tease and amuse(逗趣取乐)
  • To linger and not want to leave(逗留不舍)
  • To tease and flirt(逗情调笑)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese punctuation, 逗号 (comma) is one of the most frequently used marks, indicating a brief pause in sentences.
  • The character carries connotations of lighthearted interaction and playful amusement in social contexts.
  • Historically used in literary contexts to describe temporary stays or pauses in journey.

FAQ