涂 Stroke Order — How to Write 涂
涂 is written in 10 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 氵, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
涂 Radical and Character Components
涂 is a phono-semantic compound: 氵 (water) carries the meaning, while 余 indicates the sound.
Radical: 氵 + 7 more strokes
涂 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- tú
Meanings of 涂 in Chinese
1
tú涂
To apply (paint, color, oil, cream, etc.) to a surface; to spread on.
她每天早上都会在脸上涂防晒霜。
She applies sunscreen to her face every morning.
To scribble or doodle, often in a messy or unskillful way.
这孩子喜欢在墙上涂涂画画。
This child likes to scribble and draw on the walls.
To smear, daub, or erase with a pen/brush; to modify by covering or striking out.
请不要涂改答案。
Please do not alter the answers.
Muddy; mire. Often used in the idiom "tú tàn" (涂炭) to describe extreme suffering, misery, or hardship.
这场灾难让人们的生活陷入了涂炭之中。
This disaster plunged people's lives into misery.
A shallow tidal flat or sandbar formed by the deposition of silt and sand carried by rivers or sea currents, often found at river mouths or along coasts.
我们可以在广阔的滩涂上赶海捕鱼。
We can collect seafood and fish on the vast tidal flats.
Same as '途' (tú), referring to a path, road, or journey.
人生是一条漫漫长涂。
Life is a long journey.
Common Words and Phrases with 涂
1
A protective or decorative layer applied to a surface.
这种新型材料的表面涂层具有优异的防腐蚀性能。
The surface coating of this new material has excellent anti-corrosion properties.
2
To alter something by erasing the original and rewriting or redrawing it.
小明发现作业本上的错误，用修正液涂改后重新写了答案。
Xiao Ming found mistakes in his homework, used correction fluid to erase them, and then rewrote the answers.
3
To cover or apply with a layer of a substance for finishing, protection, or sealing.
她用一层防水漆涂盖了旧木桌，使其焕然一新。
She coated the old wooden table with a layer of waterproof paint, making it look brand new.
4
A substance applied to a surface for protection or decoration, such as paint.
这种新型环保涂料对人体无害。
This new type of environmentally friendly coating is harmless to the human body.
5
To apply a soft, sticky substance onto a surface; also, to write or draw casually or carelessly.
她小心翼翼地在面包上涂抹了一层薄薄的黄油。
She carefully spread a thin layer of butter on the bread.
6
A smear, especially on a microscope slide, for examination or analysis (e.g., a stool smear).
医生从病人的喉咙取了涂片进行细菌培养
The doctor took a smear from the patient's throat for bacterial culture.
7
Tushan (Tu Shan) is a legendary mountain in ancient China, known as the place where Yu the Great convened feudal lords and married his wife.
《山海经》中记载了涂山氏的传说，她是大禹的妻子。
The Classic of Mountains and Seas records the legend of the Tushan clan, who was the wife of Yu the Great.
8
To apply a coating, such as paint or plaster, to a surface for decoration or protection.
这件家具需要重新涂饰，才能恢复原有的光泽。
This piece of furniture needs to be refinished to restore its original luster.
9
utter misery; dire straits
疾病和贫困让这个家庭长期生活在涂炭之中。
Disease and poverty have kept this family in a state of dire misery for a long time.
10
Scribblings, amateur drawings, or poor handwriting. It can also be used as a humble term for one's own writing.
我最近在学写毛笔字，这几幅字不过是我的涂鸦之作，请大家多指教。
I've been learning brush calligraphy recently, and these few pieces are just my humble scribbles; please feel free to offer your guidance.
11
To delete, change, or prune text (like an essay).
这份草稿还有几处需要涂乙，才能最终定稿。
This draft still has a few sections that require alterations before it can be finalized.
12
To apply cosmetics; metaphorically, to prettify or whitewash something to conceal its flaws or true nature.
她早早起床，对着镜子仔细地涂脂抹粉，准备迎接重要的一天。
She woke up early and carefully applied her makeup in front of the mirror, preparing for an important day.
More words with 涂
- hú糊tu涂confused, muddled
- tú涂shàng上apply, coat
- tú涂zài在apply, spread
- tān滩tú涂tidal flat, mudflat
- tú涂diào掉erase, cross out
- tú涂yǒu有coated with, painted with
- hú糊tu涂shì事Blunder, Folly
- tú涂huà画doodle, scribble
- cháng长tú涂long journey, long trip
- jì塈tú涂To plaster, To daub
- mù木qì器tú涂liào料wood coating, wood paint
- tú涂shān山shì氏Tushan clan, Lady Tushan
- yíng荧guāng光tú涂liào料fluorescent paint, fluorescent coating
- luàn乱tú涂luàn乱huà画doodle, scribble
- tú涂lǎo老shī师Teacher Tu, Mr. Tu
- yì一shí时hú糊tu涂a momentary lapse, a moment of confusion
- tú涂shuā刷gōng工zuò作Painting work, Painting job
- tú涂tú涂huà画huà画to doodle, to scribble
- shí食pǐn品tú涂céng层food coating, edible coating
- suí随yì意tú涂gǎi改doodle, scribble
Idioms with 涂
- gān肝nǎo脑tú涂dì地die tragically or make ultimate sacrifice
- hú胡lǐ里hú胡tu涂muddled and confused
- hú糊hu糊tú涂tu涂muddled and confused
- hú糊li里hú糊tú涂confused and muddled
- hú糊tu涂dào到dǐng顶Utterly confused and foolish
- nán难dé得hú糊tú涂Wise to feign ignorance
- shēng生líng灵tú涂tàn炭people suffering extreme misery
- wàn万mín民tú涂tàn炭people in extreme misery
- xī稀li里hú糊tu涂Confused and muddled
- xìn信bǐ笔tú涂yā鸦to scribble or doodle carelessly
- yī一bài败tú涂dì地suffer a crushing defeat
- yī一tā塌hú糊tu涂in a complete mess
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Open the tool →Questions about 涂
What does 涂 mean in Chinese?
涂 (tú) means “To scribble or doodle” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 涂?
涂 is pronounced tú in Mandarin Chinese.
How many strokes does 涂 have?
涂 has 10 strokes.
How do you write 涂?
涂 is written in 10 strokes, starting from the radical 氵. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 涂?
The radical of 涂 is 氵, and 涂 is a phono-semantic compound.
