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掴 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
掴guāito slap, to box one's earsv, 11 strokes, radical 扌, rank #20654, Very Hard
掴guāialso pr. [guo2]unknown, 11 strokes, radical 扌, rank #20654, Very Hard
guāi(guai1)guai T1
  1. 1to slap, to box one's ears
  2. 2also pr. [guo2]
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March 24, 2026

掴(摑)guāi(guai1)

The character 掴 (guāi) means 'to slap' or 'to box someone's ears.' It is often used in the context of physical actions that involve striking someone with an open hand. This term is typically associated with a strong, sudden action and is used in informal contexts, often implying a reprimand or punishment.

Strokes11Radical扌Frequency#20654DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese culture, physical punishment was sometimes used as a form of discipline, particularly for children. The use of 掴 can reflect historical attitudes towards authority and discipline in familial relationships.

Memory tip

Imagine a child who mischievously slaps their sibling, and you can picture the action vividly. The left part of the character, 扌 (shǒu), represents a hand, while the right part, 𠂇, evokes the motion of a slap. Connect 'guāi' with the idea of a quick, sharp action to remember its sound and meaning.

Meanings of 掴

guāi(guai1)
1to slap, to box one's ears
2also pr. [guo2]
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 掴

掴Simplified
摑Traditional
11Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 掴

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AI study notes for 掴

Quick Contrast

打 (dǎ, to hit) - use 掴 when emphasizing a slapping motion specifically, rather than a general hitting action.

Usage Notes

Learners often mistake 掴 for other similar verbs that imply hitting, such as 打 (dǎ). Remember that 掴 specifically refers to a slap or a box on the ears rather than a general hit. It's more common in informal settings and should be used cautiously in formal contexts.

HSK Study Tips

While 掴 is not at a specific HSK level, it connects to more general vocabulary related to actions and emotions that learners at HSK 2 or 3 might encounter. Focus on practicing its pronunciation and understanding its use in colloquial speech.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 掴 with 打 (dǎ) and use them interchangeably, using 掴 when they mean to say 'hit' in a general sense. For example, saying '我会掴他' (I will hit him) should be corrected to '我会打他.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 掴

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Etymology of 掴

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 国 represents the sound. Simplified form of 摑.

Memory hint

hand

Semantic (meaning)扌
+
Phonetic (sound)国
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

掴 = 扌 + 国. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 掴

IDS Structure⿰扌国
掴Full character
=
扌shou3
left
国Guo2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 掴?

How to say to slap, to box one's ears in Chinese

“to slap, to box one's ears” in Chinese is掴guāi

The character 掴 (guāi) means 'to slap' or 'to box someone's ears.' It is often used in the context of physical actions that involve striking someone with an open hand. This term is typically associated with a strong, sudden action and is used in informal contexts, often implying a reprimand or punishment.

When to use 掴

Learners often mistake 掴 for other similar verbs that imply hitting, such as 打 (dǎ). Remember that 掴 specifically refers to a slap or a box on the ears rather than a general hit. It's more common in informal settings and should be used cautiously in formal contexts.

掴 or something close to it

打 (dǎ, to hit) - use 掴 when emphasizing a slapping motion specifically, rather than a general hitting action.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 掴 with 打 (dǎ) and use them interchangeably, using 掴 when they mean to say 'hit' in a general sense. For example, saying '我会掴他' (I will hit him) should be corrected to '我会打他.'

Write 掴

掴

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

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Word Family of 掴

Words containing this character1
掴guāito slap摑

Frequently asked questions about 掴

No, 掴 is primarily used in informal contexts, so it's best avoided in formal writing.

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