套 (tào) is a Chinese character meaning “cover”. It is written from 大 (big) and 镸 (long (component form of 長)), one above the other, and takes 10 strokes.
Build the character for “cover; set”
Four steps: break it apart, build it, recall it, use it in a word.
StartLearn this character
Structure
大 + 镸
Top–bottom structure
Structure from: 现代字形拆分，按 hanzi-writer-data 笔画核验（大 3 画 + 镸 7 画 = 10 画）
Memory aid
A big (大) cover pulled down over something long (镸) — like a long arm slipping into a coat sleeve.
This is a memory aid, not the historical origin.
Stroke order
10 strokes
In real words
- 外套wài tàocoat; overcoat套 = tào
- 手套shǒu tàogloves套 = tào
Go deeper
All readings
cover; set
cover; case; sheath; to slip over; (measure word) set, suite
套在外面的东西；把东西罩在外面；量词，用于成组成系列的事物。 — studyhanzi 编写
Words with this reading
- 外套wài tàocoat; overcoat套 = tào
- 手套shǒu tàogloves套 = tào
Stroke data: hanzi-writer-data (Arphic Public License) · licenses & attributions
Questions people ask about this character
What does 套 mean?
套 (tào) means cover; case; sheath; to slip over; (measure word) set, suite.
How do you pronounce 套?
It is pronounced tào.
What parts is 套 made of?
大 (big) and 镸 (long (component form of 長)), one above the other. The recorded source is: 现代字形拆分，按 hanzi-writer-data 笔画核验（大 3 画 + 镸 7 画 = 10 画）. Components are the building blocks of the shape; the radical used for dictionary lookup is a separate thing.
How many strokes does 套 have?
10. You can watch the stroke order on this page, or trace it yourself.
What is the radical of 套?
大. The radical is how the character is filed in a dictionary — it is not the whole story of how the character is built.
What words use 套?
Common ones are 外套 and 手套. The reading of 套 is not the same in every word, so each word on this page shows which reading applies.