字Study Chinese Characters
对

duì correct; toward

5 strokes

对 (duì) is a Chinese character meaning “correct”. It is written from 又 (again) and 寸 (cun; inch), side by side, and takes 5 strokes.

Build the character for “correct; toward”

Four steps: break it apart, build it, recall it, use it in a word.

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Learn this character

Structure

又 + 寸

Left–right structure

  • 又 again · yòu simplified form
  • 寸 cun; inch · cùn remnant

Structure from: 现代简化字形拆分（hanzi-writer-data 笔画核验：又 2 画 + 寸 3 画 = 5 画）

Memory aid

Two hand shapes stand face to face: 又 on the left, 寸 on the right. Hold your hand up against mine and compare — that is how you check whether something is 对, right.

This is a memory aid, not the historical origin.

Stroke order

5 strokes

In real words

  • 对话duì huàdialogue; conversation; to hold talks对 = duì
  • 反对fǎn duìto oppose; to be against对 = duì
  • 对称duì chènsymmetrical; symmetry对 = duì
  • 校对jiào duìto proofread对 = duì
  • 核对hé duìto check; to verify against对 = duì
  • 派对pài duìparty (social gathering)对 = duì
  • 绝对jué duìabsolutely; definitely; absolute对 = duì
Go deeper

All readings

duì main reading

correct; toward

correct; right; to face; toward; to match; a pair

正确、与事实相合；朝着、向着；也表示一双、成组的两个。 — studyhanzi 编写

Words with this reading

  • 对话duì huàdialogue; conversation; to hold talks对 = duì
  • 反对fǎn duìto oppose; to be against对 = duì
  • 对称duì chènsymmetrical; symmetry对 = duì
  • 校对jiào duìto proofread对 = duì
  • 核对hé duìto check; to verify against对 = duì
  • 派对pài duìparty (social gathering)对 = duì
  • 绝对jué duìabsolutely; definitely; absolute对 = duì

Other characters with these parts

又 → 仅凤劝叉及双友发

寸 → 付夺守寺寻导寿时

Stroke data: hanzi-writer-data (Arphic Public License) · licenses & attributions

Questions people ask about this character

What does 对 mean?

对 (duì) means correct; right; to face; toward; to match; a pair.

How do you pronounce 对?

It is pronounced duì.

What parts is 对 made of?

又 (again) and 寸 (cun; inch), side by side. The recorded source is: 现代简化字形拆分（hanzi-writer-data 笔画核验：又 2 画 + 寸 3 画 = 5 画）. Components are the building blocks of the shape; the radical used for dictionary lookup is a separate thing.

How many strokes does 对 have?

5. You can watch the stroke order on this page, or trace it yourself.

What is the radical of 对?

寸. 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 对?

Common ones are 对话 and 反对. The reading of 对 is not the same in every word, so each word on this page shows which reading applies.