度

• Pinyin: dù
• Hanzi breakdown: 度 = 广 (shelter) + 廿 + 又 (hand) — originally related to measuring

Meaning

Degree. A unit of measurement for temperature, angles, or intensity.

Most commonly used for temperature (摄氏度 — degrees Celsius) and angles. Also appears in abstract compounds like 速度 (speed), 态度 (attitude), and 程度 (degree/extent).

Examples

1. 今天的气温是三十度。 Today's temperature is thirty degrees.
2. 水到了一百度就会沸腾。 Water boils when it reaches one hundred degrees.
3. 北京冬天有时候零下十度。 In winter, Beijing sometimes drops to minus ten degrees.

Usage Guide

Context: weather, temperature, measurements

Tone: factual

Do Say

• 今天三十五度，太热了。(It's thirty-five degrees today — so hot!)
• 发烧三十九度要去医院。(If you have a fever of thirty-nine degrees, you should go to the hospital.)

Don't Say

• 不要混淆'度'和'次' — 度 is a measurement unit (degrees), while 次 is a counter for occurrences (times). 三十度 = thirty degrees; 三十次 = thirty times.

Origin & History

An ancient character with the meaning of 'measure' or 'standard.' The radical 广 (shelter) combined with other components suggested the idea of measuring within a defined space.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal