to drop; to fall; to lose; to throw away; to fall behind; (after a verb) away; off
掉 uses the hand side: things drop or get lost, teams leave you behind (掉队), and verbs take 掉 to mean away or off — 改掉 'break (a habit)'.
GF0025–2021 character list · 二级WHOLE GLYPH & STRUCTURE
ZDIC: 形声，从扌、卓声.
WHOLE CHARACTER
to drop; to fall; to lose; to throw away; to fall behind; (after a verb) away; off
掉 uses the hand side: things drop or get lost, teams leave you behind (掉队), and verbs take 掉 to mean away or off — 改掉 'break (a habit)'.
ZDIC: 形声，从扌、卓声.
MEANING: THE HAND RADICAL
hand (from 手)
The left-side hand form; not a standalone page.
In 掉: meaning: the hand radical Shown with its documented or clearly limited role.
OLD SOUND SIDE: 卓 (ZHUÓ)
outstanding; eminent
Standalone meaning is kept separate from its sound role in 桌; the reading matches except tone (2 vs 1).
In 掉: old sound side: 卓 (zhuó) Modern diào does not sound like zhuó — the old sound side is history, not a learner hint.
Checking for a Mandarin voice…