到dào

到

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Simplified · Today

简体

Simplified Chinese

到 (dào, "to arrive") remains unchanged between simplified and traditional forms. The character combines 至 (to arrive) as the phonetic element with 刀 (knife) as the semantic component — a curious pairing that may suggest reaching a decisive point. It appears in everyday words like 到达 (arrive), 来到 (come to), and 感到 (feel).

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Shuowen

到 is a phonosemantic compound: the left side 刂 (the knife radical, derived from 刀) provides the phonetic value, while the right side 至 (meaning “to arrive”) supplies the semantic core. In the oracle‑bone script the character depicted a foot or arrow reaching a destination, conveying the idea of arrival. The later addition of the knife radical fixed the form and sound, giving modern 到 the sense of “to arrive” or “to go to.”

Pinyin

dào· HSK 1

到dào

Character evolution

Shuowen

Pinyin