驮 tuó to carry on one's back
How to remember 驮: 马 horse + 大 big = to carry on one's back. When the horse refuses the big sack of rice, the farmer shows his son the old way to carry on one's back.
Component breakdown
驮 = 马 horse + 大 big
- 马 horse
- 大 big
When the horse refuses the big sack of rice, the farmer shows his son the old way to carry on one's back.
How it is used
- To carry a load on the back - used of pack animals and, by extension, people carrying heavy things - 骡子驮着货 (luózi tuózhe huò) the mule is loaded with goods, 驮着孩子 (tuózhe háizi) carrying a child piggyback.
- Contrast with 背 (bēi, to carry on one's back): 驮 stresses a bulky load slung across the back, classically an animal's; 背 is the everyday human word.
- Somewhat rustic/vivid; often 驮着 + goods.