掉 diào

“to fall; to drop; to lag behind”

verbHSK 4 · 2021 list level 2

新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level

掉 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.

Entry 1162: 掉 diào — Level 4; official annotation 4 (动). PDF page 109

Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.

用法How to use 掉

掉 (diào) most commonly means "to fall" or "to drop" — something moves downward or comes off, often accidentally. The falling thing is usually the subject, and it is often followed by 了 or a phrase like 下来 or 在地上. Typical pattern: [thing] + 掉 + 了 / 掉 + 下来 / 掉 + 在地上.

例句Example sentences

我的手机从桌子上掉下来了。wǒ de shǒu jī cóng zhuō zi shàng diào xià lái le.My phone fell off the table.
小心，别让钥匙掉到水里。xiǎo xīn, bié ràng yào shi diào dào shuǐ lǐ.Be careful, don't let the keys fall into the water.
他跑得太快，帽子掉了。tā pǎo de tài kuài, mào zi diào le.He ran too fast, and his hat fell off.

常见错误Common mistakes

✗他掉了一跤。

✓他摔了一跤。

For a person falling or tripping, Chinese uses 摔, not 掉; 掉 is mainly for objects dropping or falling.