渡

• Pinyin: dù
• Hanzi breakdown: 渡 = 氵 (water) + 度 (phonetic, also means 'degree') — crossing water

Meaning

To cross (a body of water); to ferry across; to tide over (a difficulty). Implies crossing from one side to another.

Used for crossing rivers, lakes, or seas, as well as metaphorically for getting through difficult times. Key phrases: 渡河 (cross a river), 渡船 (ferry), 渡过难关 (get through difficulties). Not to be confused with 度 (degree, to spend time), though they were historically variants.

Examples

1. 红军渡过大渡河是长征中最惊险的一段历程。 The Red Army's crossing of the Dadu River was one of the most perilous episodes of the Long March.
2. 公司资金紧张，我们得想办法渡过这个难关。 The company is short on funds; we need to find a way to get through this difficulty.
3. 以前没有桥，村民只能靠渡船过江。 Before there was a bridge, villagers could only cross the river by ferry.

Usage Guide

Context: travel, history, metaphorical

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 我们得齐心协力渡过这次危机。(We need to work together to get through this crisis.)
• 这条渡船每半小时一班。(This ferry runs every half hour.)

Don't Say

• 用渡来表示度过时间 (Don't use 渡 to mean spending time — use 度 instead, e.g., 度假 for vacation, not 渡假)

Origin & History

Pictophonetic: 氵 (water radical) + 度 (phonetic). The water radical distinguishes it from 度 (degree), emphasizing the meaning of crossing water.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal