兜儿

• Pinyin: dōur
• Hanzi breakdown: 兜 = wrap/pouch; 儿 = erhua diminutive suffix

Meaning

Pocket; a small pouch or bag-like compartment in clothing for holding items. Beijing dialect erhua variant of 兜.

The erhua (er-ization) form of 兜, common in Beijing and northern Chinese dialects. Refers specifically to a pocket in clothing. Carries a colloquial, warm register. In standard speech, 口袋 is more widely used.

Examples

1. 他把手揣进外套兜儿里，迎着风往前走。 He shoved his hands into his coat pockets and walked forward against the wind.
2. 这件裤子两侧各有一个深兜儿，装什么都够用。 These pants have a deep pocket on each side—plenty of room for anything.
3. 她从兜儿里掏出一把零钱，放到路边的捐款箱里。 She pulled out a handful of loose change from her pocket and dropped it into the donation box by the roadside.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, colloquial, Beijing dialect

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 天冷了，他习惯把双手揣进兜儿里走路。(When it's cold, he habitually walks with both hands tucked into his pockets.)
• 这条裤子的兜儿太浅，手机放进去容易掉出来。(The pockets of these pants are too shallow — a phone placed inside might easily fall out.)

Don't Say

• 兜儿很多钱 — a pocket cannot be the subject 'having' money; say 他兜儿里有很多钱 (he has a lot of money in his pocket)

Origin & History

兜 (pouch/wrap) + 儿 (erhua suffix, Beijing dialect)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal