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奪 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
奪duóto rob, to snatch, to take by forcex, 14 strokes, radical 大
duó(duo2)duo T2
  1. 1to rob, to snatch, to take by force
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March 24, 2026

奪duó(duo2)

The character 奪 (duó) means 'to rob' or 'to snatch', conveying a sense of taking something by force or without permission. It is commonly used in contexts involving theft or competition, where one party takes something from another, often implying urgency or aggression.

Strokes14Radical大
Cultural note

In Chinese history, the concept of 奪 is often reflected in tales of war and conquest, where leaders would take resources or territory from rivals. This notion can be observed in literature and films that depict historical conflicts.

Memory tip

Imagine a thief (the character's meaning) snatching a prize (the action of taking) from a competitor. The character 奪 looks like a person (亻) taking away something valuable (the 'take' radical), which can help remind you of its meaning and pronunciation.

Meanings of 奪

duó(duo2)
1to rob, to snatch, to take by force
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 奪

奪Simplified
14Strokes
大Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 奪

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AI study notes for 奪

Quick Contrast

夺 (duó) vs 抢 (qiǎng): Use 夺 when emphasizing the act of taking something forcefully or through competition; use 抢 when focusing on the urgency or speed of the act.

Usage Notes

This character is generally used in more serious contexts, such as crime or intense competition. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; for example, '得' (dé) means 'to obtain', which is much softer in tone. Common collocations include 奪取 (duóqǔ, to seize) and 奪命 (duómìng, to take a life).

HSK Study Tips

Although 奪 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to other words related to conflict or competition. Students at this level should focus on its usage in phrases and idioms, as well as its nuances in tone and context.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 奪 with similar characters like 夺 (duó), which is more commonly used in modern contexts. Additionally, some may mistakenly use it in non-serious situations; for example, saying '我夺了他的书' (I snatched his book) can sound overly aggressive if meant playfully.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 奪

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Etymology of 奪

Formation typeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory hint

A man 大 grasping 寸 a bird 隹

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 奪?

Decomposition of 奪

IDS Structure⿳大隹寸
奪Full character
=
大da4
top
隹zhui1
middle
寸cun4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 3

Parts

Which of these is part of 奪?

How to say to rob, to snatch, to take by force in Chinese

“to rob, to snatch, to take by force” in Chinese is奪duó

The character 奪 (duó) means 'to rob' or 'to snatch', conveying a sense of taking something by force or without permission. It is commonly used in contexts involving theft or competition, where one party takes something from another, often implying urgency or aggression.

When to use 奪

This character is generally used in more serious contexts, such as crime or intense competition. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; for example, '得' (dé) means 'to obtain', which is much softer in tone. Common collocations include 奪取 (duóqǔ, to seize) and 奪命 (duómìng, to take a life).

奪 or something close to it

夺 (duó) vs 抢 (qiǎng): Use 夺 when emphasizing the act of taking something forcefully or through competition; use 抢 when focusing on the urgency or speed of the act.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 奪 with similar characters like 夺 (duó), which is more commonly used in modern contexts. Additionally, some may mistakenly use it in non-serious situations; for example, saying '我夺了他的书' (I snatched his book) can sound overly aggressive if meant playfully.

Write 奪

奪

Practice writing 奪 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 奪

Words containing this character20
夺duóto seize奪
争夺zhēngduóto fight over爭奪
夺得to wrest奪得
夺冠duóguànto seize the crown奪冠
剥夺bōduóto deprive剝奪
夺取duóqǔto seize奪取
掠夺lüèduóto plunder掠奪
抢夺qiǎngduóto plunder搶奪
夺回to recapture奪回
夺目to dazzle the eyes奪目
争夺战struggle爭奪戰
夺权to seize power奪權
定夺to determine定奪
夺走to snatch away奪走
光彩夺目dazzling光彩奪目
争分夺秒zhēngfēnduómiǎomaking every second count爭分奪秒
篡夺to usurp篡奪
夺魁duókuíto seize奪魁
强词夺理sophistry強詞奪理
先声夺人to gain the upper hand by a show of strength先聲奪人
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 奪

What does 夺 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 奪

It's not common in casual contexts, but you might encounter it in news reports or discussions about crime.

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