斗
capacity unit; container; Big Dipper; surname
Meanings
9 senses · 9 examplesmeasure word
capacity unit, 10 liters = 1 dou, 10 dou = 1 dan
formalTraditional Chinese agricultural capacity measurement unit, now rarely used in daily life.
In ancient times, one dou of rice could feed an adult for about a day.
Old grain merchants used dou to measure the grain they sold.
noun
grain measuring container, 1 dou capacity
formalTraditional wooden or bamboo measuring tool for grain, mostly square or slightly curved.
My grandfather's family still keeps the wooden dou passed down from their ancestors.
noun
bucket-shaped thing
informalOften used in colloquial speech with the -er suffix, refers to various container-like or concave objects.
The strainer bucket of this teapot is clogged, and no water can pour out.
Mom put chili powder into the glass tobacco bowl.
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The wind scoop on the roof can help exhaust hot air indoors.
noun
circular fingerprint
literaryA term used in traditional Chinese palmistry and fingerprint analysis.
He has three circular fingerprints and seven簸箕-shaped fingerprints on his ten fingers.
noun
ancient wine vessel
archaicRarely used in modern contexts, mostly seen in historical documents and reenactments.
noun
Southern Dipper, one of the 28 lunar mansions
literaryA traditional Chinese astronomical term referring to the southern asterism.
noun
Big Dipper, Northern Dipper
Commonly used in both literary and colloquial contexts to refer to the Big Dipper constellation.
At night, we can use the Big Dipper to find our way.
The handle of the Big Dipper points to the North Star.
adjective
same as 陡
archaicAncient and literary usage, now mostly replaced by 陡.
proper noun
surname Dou
A relatively rare Chinese surname.