Meaning and Usage
The character 渡 primarily means "to cross" or "to ferry over" a physical barrier such as a river, road, or sea. It often implies movement from one side to another, either by walking, boat, or other means.
Common Contexts
渡 is frequently used in contexts involving crossing rivers (渡河), streets (渡马路), or other obstacles. It can also be used metaphorically to mean "to get through" or "to pass over" difficulties.
Collocations and Patterns
- 渡河 (dù hé): to cross a river
- 渡过难关 (dù guò nán guān): to overcome difficulties
- 渡船 (dù chuán): ferry boat
Usage Notes
渡 is a formal or literary word often used in written Chinese and formal speech. In casual conversation, people might use 过 or 走过 instead when talking about crossing streets or rivers. It is important not to confuse 渡 with 过, which is more general for "passing" but does not specifically imply crossing a physical barrier.
Common Confusion
Don't confuse 渡 with 横过 (héngguò), which also means "to cross" but emphasizes crossing horizontally, often used for roads. 渡 has a stronger sense of crossing water or significant obstacles.