陶 (táo) - Pottery, ceramics & to cultivate, educate

陶Tone 2

táo ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

檀婷

陶 · táo

Pottery, ceramics;

to cultivate, educate;

contented, happy;

a surname.

Pottery, ceramicsto cultivate, educatecontented, happy

Usage highlights

PotteryContentmentCultivate temperamentTao YuanmingPotter's wheelKiln

Synonyms

  • 瓷— porcelain, china
  • 瓦— tile, earthenware

Antonyms

  • 忧— worry, sorrow
  • 愁— sadness, anxiety

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He makes beautiful pottery (陶瓷).
  • The teacher educates students (陶冶学生).
  • They live a contented life (陶醉的生活).
  • Mr. Tao is our neighbor (陶先生).

Collocations

  • Pottery(陶瓷)
  • Contentment(陶醉)
  • Cultivate temperament(陶冶情操)
  • Tao Yuanming(陶渊明)
  • Potter's wheel(陶轮)
  • Kiln-fired pottery(陶器)

Idioms

  • Content and happy(陶然自得)
  • Living in seclusion like Tao Yuanming(陶然物外)
  • Refined and cultivated(陶情适性)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • One of the oldest Chinese crafts, dating back to Neolithic Yangshao culture.
  • Associated with Tao Yuanming (365-427 CE), famous poet who idealized rural contentment.
  • The character combines 'mound' (阝) and 'pottery kiln' (匋), representing pottery making.

FAQ