道 (dào): Chinese measure word
How to use 道 (dào), the Chinese measure word for questions, dishes and lines: example nouns with pinyin, sentences and common mistakes.
Last updated 2026-10-30
道
dào
questions, dishes and lines
What it's used for
道 counts exam questions and problems (一道题), dishes of food (一道菜), doors and walls, rainbows and beams of light.
Common nouns with 道
- 一道光 yí dào guāng light
- 一道美食 yí dào měi shí culinary delicacy
- 一道试题 yí dào shì tí exam question
- 一道手续 yí dào shǒu xù procedure
- 一道弯 yí dào wān bend; turn
- 一道闪电 yí dào shǎn diàn lightning
- 一道沟 yí dào gōu ditch
- 一道命令 yí dào mìng lìng order
- 一道缝 yí dào fèng seam
- 一道漆 yí dào qī paint
- 一道彩虹 yí dào cǎi hóng rainbow
- 一道裂缝 yí dào liè fèng crack
- 一道手脚 yí dào shǒu jiǎo hand and foot
- 一道围墙 yí dào wéi qiáng perimeter wall
- 一道皱纹 yí dào zhòu wén wrinkle
- 一道菜 yí dào cài dish (type of food)
Example sentences
-
这道题太难了。
Zhè dào tí tài nán le.
This question is too hard.
-
我会做几道中国菜。
Wǒ huì zuò jǐ dào zhōng guó cài.
I can cook a few Chinese dishes.
-
天边出现了一道彩虹。
Tiān biān chū xiàn le yí dào cǎi hóng.
A rainbow appeared on the horizon.
Common mistake
Questions in conversation take 个 (一个问题); questions on a test take 道 (一道题).
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