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捋 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
捋lǚto gather, to pluck; to rub off, to scrapev, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #33080, Very Hard
捋lǚto smooth or arrange sth using one's fingersunknown, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #33080, Very Hard
捋lǚto hold sth long and run one's hand along itunknown, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #33080, Very Hard
捋lǚto strokeunknown, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #33080, Very Hard
捋luōto gather, to pluck; to rub off, to scrapev, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #33080, Very Hard
捋luōto smooth or arrange sth using one's fingersunknown, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #33080, Very Hard
捋luōto hold sth long and run one's hand along itunknown, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #33080, Very Hard
捋luōto strokeunknown, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #33080, Very Hard
捋lǚto gather, to pluck; to rub off, to scrapev, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #33080, Very Hard
捋lǚto smooth or arrange sth using one's fingersunknown, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #33080, Very Hard
捋lǚto hold sth long and run one's hand along itunknown, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #33080, Very Hard
捋lǚto strokeunknown, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #33080, Very Hard
lǚ(lv3)
primary
 T3
  1. 1to gather, to pluck; to rub off, to scrape
  2. 2to smooth or arrange sth using one's fingers
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

捋lǚ(lv3)

The character 捋 (lǚ) primarily means to gather or pluck, often used in contexts where one is smoothing or arranging something with their fingers. It can also imply the action of stroking or rubbing along a surface, reflecting a gentle, careful handling of objects. Commonly, it is used in phrases related to grooming or organizing items.

Strokes10Radical扌Frequency#33080DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, grooming and care for personal appearance is highly valued, making 捋 a relevant term in contexts like hairdressing or maintaining cleanliness, reflecting the importance of meticulousness.

Memory Tip

Imagine a cat (the radical for 'hand' is in the character) gently using its paw to smooth down its fur, as if it is 'gathering' the loose hairs. The sound 'lǚ' can remind you of 'lure,' as the cat lures you to pet it while it smooths its fur.

Meanings of 捋

lǚ(lv3)
primary
1to gather, to pluck; to rub off, to scrape
2to smooth or arrange sth using one's fingers
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 捋

捋Simplified
10Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 捋

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Podcast: 捋

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AI Study Notes for 捋

Quick Contrast

捋 (lǚ) vs 抚 (fǔ) — use 捋 for gathering or smoothing with fingers, while 抚 emphasizes a gentle touch or caress.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 捋 with similar verbs like 摸 (mō) which means to touch or feel. It is more formal and specific, mainly used in contexts involving careful handling. Be cautious with the third tone; mispronouncing it can change the meaning entirely.

HSK Study Tips

Although 捋 is not in the HSK curriculum, it connects well with other verbs related to touch and manipulation such as 摸 (mō) and 拿 (ná). Focus on practicing its use in daily conversations about grooming or organizing items.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 捋 in contexts where 摸 (mō) is more appropriate, such as saying 捋东西 (lǚ dōngxī) instead of 摸东西 (mō dōngxī) for 'to touch things'. Additionally, confusing the pronunciation with other similar-sounding words can lead to misunderstandings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 捋

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Etymology of 捋

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

To take 扌 a handful 寽; 寽 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 捋

  1. 1The giveawayTo take 扌 a handful 寽; 寽 also provides the pronunciation
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 捋? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 捋?

Decomposition of 捋

IDS Structure⿰扌寽
捋Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
寽lü4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 捋?

How to say to gather, to pluck; to rub off, to scrape in Chinese

“to gather, to pluck; to rub off, to scrape” in Chinese is捋lǚ

The character 捋 (lǚ) primarily means to gather or pluck, often used in contexts where one is smoothing or arranging something with their fingers. It can also imply the action of stroking or rubbing along a surface, reflecting a gentle, careful handling of objects. Commonly, it is used in phrases related to grooming or organizing items.

When to use 捋

Learners often confuse 捋 with similar verbs like 摸 (mō) which means to touch or feel. It is more formal and specific, mainly used in contexts involving careful handling. Be cautious with the third tone; mispronouncing it can change the meaning entirely.

捋 or something close to it

捋 (lǚ) vs 抚 (fǔ) — use 捋 for gathering or smoothing with fingers, while 抚 emphasizes a gentle touch or caress.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 捋 in contexts where 摸 (mō) is more appropriate, such as saying 捋东西 (lǚ dōngxī) instead of 摸东西 (mō dōngxī) for 'to touch things'. Additionally, confusing the pronunciation with other similar-sounding words can lead to misunderstandings.

Write 捋

捋

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 捋

捋 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

特迪用自己的粗手指头____了一下浓密蓬乱的头发。

Teddy ran thick fingers through his unruly thatch of hair.

Example Sentences for 捋 (4)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
特迪用自己的粗手指头捋了一下浓密蓬乱的头发。

tè dí yòng zì jǐ de cū shǒu zhǐ tóu luō le yī xià nóng mì péng luàn de tóu fā。

Teddy ran thick fingers through his unruly thatch of hair.
2
我轻抚着捋平她的头发。

wǒ qīng fǔ zháo luō píng tā de tóu fā。

I petted and smoothed her hair.
3
爸爸用他的一双大手捋平了地图上的折痕。

bà bà yòng tā de yī shuāng dà shǒu luō píng le dì tú shàng de zhē hén。

Papa flattened the creases of the map with his broad hands.
4
他用力捋他那愈见稀疏的灰头发.

tā yòng lì luō tā nà yù jiàn xī shū de huī tóu fā.

He ran his hand through his thinning gray hair.

Word Family of 捋

Words Containing This Character1
捋lǚto stroke
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 捋 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 捋

No, 捋 can refer to gathering or smoothing various items, not just hair.

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