dit3 dou2跌倒
Jyutpingdit3 dou2
Yaledit dóu
Definition
To fall over; to fall down; to lose balance and fall to the ground.
colloquialdaily actionsbody
How it's used
While 跌倒 is understood, native speakers often prefer using more descriptive verbs like 跣親 or 仆親 when describing an accidental fall. These alternatives carry a more immediate, colloquial feel that better captures the suddenness of a mishap. 跌倒 sounds slightly more formal or clinical, often appearing in written reports or news accounts of accidents.
Examples
He wasn't careful walking and fell down to the ground.
Related words
Common phrases
to fall and get injured
Common mistake
Learners often use 跌倒 to mean dropping an object, but it is strictly for people losing their balance. For dropping things like a phone or a cup, use 跌 instead.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
