打 (dǎ) — to hit / to strike (versatile action verb)

打 (dǎ)

A highly productive verb whose core meaning is "to strike" or "to hit." From this core sense, 打 extends to many everyday actions: making a phone call (打电话), playing ball sports (打球), fighting (打人), and more. Whenever an action involves a striking, hitting, or forceful contact motion, 打 is often the right verb.

Meanings

1. [verb] To hit, to strike, to beat.
2. [verb] To play (ball sports that involve striking: basketball, tennis, etc.).
3. [verb] Component of many verb phrases: 打电话 (to call), 打车 (to take a taxi), 打针 (to give/get an injection).

Example Sentences

不可以打人，那是不对的。 Bù kěyǐ dǎ rén, nà shì bù duì de. You must not hit people, that is wrong.

他喜欢打篮球。 Tā xǐhuān dǎ lánqiú. He likes to play basketball.

我要给朋友打电话。 Wǒ yào gěi péngyou dǎ diànhuà. I am going to call my friend.

我们打车去吧，走路太远了。 Wǒmen dǎchē qù ba, zǒulù tài yuǎn le. Let's take a taxi, walking is too far.

Collocations

Memory Hook

打 is the "Swiss Army knife" of action verbs. The 手 (hand) radical on the left tells you the action involves hands — hitting, dialing, playing, grabbing.