tuò
柝
night watchman's clapper
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
wooden clapper used by night watchmen to mark the watches
literaryA wooden instrument struck to announce the night watches in ancient China. The character is literary and archaic; the more common form is 柝.
Jìng静
yè夜
zhōng中
，
yuǎn远
chù处
chuán传
lái来
tuò𣟄
shēng声
，
yǐ已
shì是
sān三
gēng更
shí时
fēn分
。
In the quiet night, the sound of the watchman's clapper came from afar—it was already the third watch.
Gǔ古
rén人
xún巡
yè夜
shí时
shǒu手
chí持
tuò𣟄
，
zǒu走
jiē街
chuàn串
xiàng巷
yǐ以
bào报
shí时
。
Ancient people held the clapper while patrolling at night, walking through streets and alleys to announce the time.
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Jūn军
zhōng中
cháng常
yòng用
tuò𣟄
shēng声
lái来
bào报
shí时
huò或
jǐng警
shì示
。
In the military, the sound of the clapper was often used to announce time or give warnings.