This is the 700th most frequent Chinese word.
杜
"杜" means "to stop," "to prevent," or is used as a Chinese surname.
In this sentence, '杜' is used as part of the verb '杜绝' (to put a stop to), indicating completely eliminating or preventing an undesired action or phenomenon.
杜绝浪费是我们的责任。
Eliminating waste is our responsibility.
Here, '杜' is part of the personal name '杜甫'. As a surname, it signifies someone's family name in Chinese culture.
杜甫是中国历史上的一位伟大诗人。
Du Fu is a great poet in Chinese history.
In this context, '杜' is used as the first character in '杜鹃' (rhododendron), a type of flower, showing its use in flora-related terms.