dou3倒
Jyutpingdou3
Yaledou
Definition
To fall down, collapse, or topple over.
colloquialdaily actionsdescriptions
How it's used
Focuses on the physical act of tipping over or losing balance from an upright position. Unlike 跌, which emphasizes the downward movement of a person or object, 倒 often implies a loss of structural stability or an object toppling over onto its side.
Examples
Be careful, the vase almost fell down.
He doesn't look where he's going when he walks, he falls down all the time.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 倒 with 跌. While both can mean to fall, 跌 is used for people or objects dropping down, whereas 倒 specifically describes the action of toppling over or collapsing.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
