到 stroke order 到 chinese writing meaning 到 chinese character tattoos

I. The Core Meaning of the Chinese Character "到" (dào)

The character "到" (dào) is a dynamic and goal-oriented verb. Its core meaning is "to arrive," "to reach," or "to achieve." It signifies the successful conclusion of a movement or effort, marking the attainment of a destination, goal, or point in time.

1. Literal & Action-Based Meanings:

  • To arrive at; to reach (a place):

    • 我到了 (Wǒ dào le) - I have arrived.

    • 到达 (dàodá) - To arrive (at a destination).

  • To go to; to leave for:

    • 到学校去 (dào xuéxiào qù) - To go to school.

  • Up until; To (a point in time):

    • 到今天 (dào jīntiān) - Up until today.

  • To achieve (a state or result):

    • 做到 (zuòdào) - To achieve; to accomplish.

2. Figurative & Philosophical Meanings:
This is where the character gains its profound depth, transforming from a simple verb into a symbol of completion and fulfillment.

  • Achievement and Accomplishment: "到" embodies the moment of success—the point where effort culminates in a desired result. It represents the fulfillment of a goal, a dream, or a personal journey.

  • Completion and Closure: It marks the end of a process, a final state of being. It brings a sense of resolution and finality.

  • Presence and Mindfulness: In its sense of "arriving," it can symbolize being fully present in a moment, having one's mind and spirit "arrive" where one's body is.

3. Character Construction:
The character is composed of two parts:

  • 至 (zhì): The component on the left, which itself means "to arrive" or "the extreme."

  • 刂 (dāo): The "knife" radical on the right, indicating an action or a tool.

The structure powerfully suggests "to arrive with the decisive finality of a knife's cut." It implies a clear, definitive endpoint—a goal has been cleanly and successfully reached.


II. "到" as a Tattoo: Meanings and Considerations

A tattoo of "到" is a powerful, affirmative, and highly motivational choice. It is a permanent mark of arrival and achievement.

Common and Positive Meanings:

  1. A Milestone Marker: This is the most direct meaning. The tattoo can commemorate a significant personal achievement—graduating, overcoming an illness, reaching a career goal, or surviving a difficult period. It declares, "I have arrived at this point in my life."

  2. A Symbol of Ambition and Perseverance: It can represent the wearer's drive to "reach" their goals, no matter how ambitious. It serves as a constant reminder to strive, persist, and eventually "arrive" at one's desired destination.

  3. A Philosophy of Completion and Follow-Through: For someone who values seeing things through to the end, "到" symbolizes the importance of completion. It’s the antithesis of giving up halfway.

  4. A Commitment to Mindfulness: It can be a reminder to be fully "present"—to have one's mind "arrive" in the current moment and engage with life completely.

⚠️ Important Considerations & Potential Drawbacks

"到" is a very positive and safe tattoo. Its main challenge is its inherent connection to an endpoint.

  • Potential Association with Finality: While "arrival" is positive, it can also imply an ending or a conclusion. The philosophical wearer might see this as a beautiful part of life's cycle, but others might perceive a lack of future journey. This is easily countered by viewing life as a series of destinations to be reached.

Conclusion and Recommendation

The character "到" is a highly recommended, powerful, and accomplishment-oriented choice for a tattoo.

It is a symbol that represents:

  • Achievement (the culmination of effort and perseverance)

  • Arrival (reaching a significant life destination)

  • Completion (the power of seeing things through)

  • Presence (being fully in the moment)

If you are a person who sets goals and relentlessly pursues them, if you have overcome a great challenge and want to mark that "arrival," or if you simply want a tattoo that motivates you to keep striving for your next destination, then "到" is a perfect and powerful emblem. It is a character that celebrates the journey by honoring its successful conclusion.

How to Write "到" (Stroke Order)

The stroke order for "到" is essential for its correct and balanced structure.

  1. First (Left Part "至"): 一 (Horizontal) - The top horizontal stroke.

  2. Second: ㇀ (Lift) - The upward stroke.

  3. Third: 丶 (Dot) - The dot.

  4. Fourth: 一 (Horizontal) - The middle horizontal stroke.

  5. Fifth: 丨 (Vertical) - The vertical stroke.

  6. Sixth: 一 (Horizontal) - The bottom horizontal stroke.

  7. Seventh (Right Part "刂"): 丨 (Vertical) - The left vertical stroke of the radical.

  8. Eighth: 亅 (Vertical Hook) - The final vertical hook.

Writing Tip: The left "至" component should be the dominant part, with the right "刂" radical acting as a slender, decisive counterweight. The entire character should feel grounded and final, visually representing the concept of firmly "arriving" at a point.

到字意思【meaning】

到字基本字义解释【Basic meaning】

到dào（ㄉㄠˋ）

⒈  从别处来：到达。到站。到来。到场。到任。到职。到案。签到。恰到好处。

⒉  往：到群众中去。

⒊  周全，全顾得着：周到。面面俱到。

⒋  成功：得到。办到。

⒌  姓。

到的异体字【Variant】

  • 倒

到字汉英互译【Chinese-English Translation】

adsum、to、unto、up

造字法【Character Creation】

形声：从至、刀声

到的英文翻译【English Translation】

go to, arrive, been to

到字组词【Word Grouping】

到家;到手;迟到;剀到;到地;到大来;遇到;到庭;恳到;签到;远到;想不到;到了;还到;一到伴;

到字取名的寓意【The meaning of the name】

到字取名寓指胜利、成功、周全之意。中性字，用字频率为百分名字中使用了1492次，点击查看到字起名

到字取名的含义是什么【What does the name mean?】：

到字取名义指财富,多才,文静之义;

到配什么字最好【What word is best?】

起名到配什么字最好【What word is best?】?到配什么字最好【What word is best?】男孩可配选、酉、逍、居、漠等字起名大气好听的。女孩到字配什么字好听可配佾、倜、伢、雯、妤等字起名最好听。

与到字搭配的最佳男孩名字【Best boy names that go with this word】

  • dao cheng到城

  • ming dao茗到

  • chu dao初到

  • dao rong到容

  • de dao德到

  • ji dao吉到

与到字搭配的最佳女孩名字【Best girl names that go with this word】

  • dao jing到静

chinese characters

Chinese words