Meanings of 掳
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About 掳
Podcast: 掳
Podcast: 掳
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AI Study Notes for 掳
掳 (lǔ) vs 抓 (zhuā) — use 掳 when emphasizing a forceful capture, while 抓 focuses on the act of grabbing or catching.
Be cautious as 掳 is not commonly used in everyday conversation and may sound overly dramatic in informal contexts. It often collocates with terms related to crime or military, such as 掳人 (lǔ rén) meaning 'to kidnap.' Ensure proper tone pronunciation to avoid confusion with other similar-sounding words.
While 掳 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, understanding it can be beneficial for intermediate learners who are expanding their vocabulary around themes of conflict and power. Focus on recognizing its usage in literature or historical texts, as it may appear in advanced reading materials.
Learners often confuse 掳 with 捕 (bǔ) or 拿 (ná), which are less aggressive. For instance, saying '我想掳这个' (I want to seize this) may sound too forceful; it's better to use a softer verb like 拿 (ná) in most everyday contexts.
Pronunciation of 掳
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Etymology of 掳
To catch 虏 someone by the hand 扌; 虏 also provides the pronunciation
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 掳
- 1The giveawayTo catch 虏 someone by the hand 扌; 虏 also provides the pronunciation
- 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 掳? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 掳
Identify the Components
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How to say to capture, to seize in Chinese
“to capture, to seize” in Chinese is掳
The character 掳 (lǔ) means 'to capture' or 'to seize,' often used in contexts involving taking control of something or someone by force. It can describe both physical capture, such as in military contexts, and metaphorical capture, such as seizing an opportunity. The term carries a connotation of aggression or violence.
When to use 掳
Be cautious as 掳 is not commonly used in everyday conversation and may sound overly dramatic in informal contexts. It often collocates with terms related to crime or military, such as 掳人 (lǔ rén) meaning 'to kidnap.' Ensure proper tone pronunciation to avoid confusion with other similar-sounding words.
掳 or something close to it
掳 (lǔ) vs 抓 (zhuā) — use 掳 when emphasizing a forceful capture, while 抓 focuses on the act of grabbing or catching.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 掳 with 捕 (bǔ) or 拿 (ná), which are less aggressive. For instance, saying '我想掳这个' (I want to seize this) may sound too forceful; it's better to use a softer verb like 拿 (ná) in most everyday contexts.
Write 掳
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Practice writing 掳 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 掳
掳 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. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
父子俩被那些____走他们的人推到了枪口前。
The man and his son had been pushed into the line of fire by their captors.
Example Sentences for 掳 (1)
Word Family of 掳
Compound Meaning
What does 掳 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 掳
It's not commonly used in everyday language but may appear in literature or discussions about crime and military.
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