斗
contributes the sense of a ladle or dipper · Kangxi radical 68
contributes the sense of a ladle or dipper, and by extension measuring, scooping and pouring
斗 originally pictured a long-handled dipper or ladle: a small bowl with a slanting handle running off to one side. In the modern form you can still read the two short strokes at the top as what the bowl holds or spills, the long horizontal as the bowl's rim, and the vertical hook as the handle held in the hand. Because such a dipper was a standard scoop, it became a unit of dry measure, which is why it turns up in words for vessels and for measuring out grain (斛, 料, 科) as well as for pouring (斟). The separate modern sense "to fight" comes from a different old graph that later merged into this same shape.
斗 at a glance
- Meaning
- contributes the sense of a ladle or dipper
- Strokes
- 4
- Characters
- 13
- Role
- Usually contributes meaning
- Kangxi radical
- 68
Characters with 斗 (12 of 13)
HSK 5 · 2
HSK 6 · 1
Frequently asked questions
What does the component 斗 mean?
斗 means "contributes the sense of a ladle or dipper". In the characters that contain it, it usually contributes meaning.
How many Chinese characters contain 斗?
13 characters in this dictionary contain 斗, including ones at HSK 4, HSK 5, HSK 6.
Is 斗 a radical?
Yes — 斗 is Kangxi radical 68, one of the 214 traditional indexing radicals used to organise Chinese dictionaries.
How many strokes does 斗 have?
斗 is written in 4 strokes.