Meanings of 摳
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About 摳
Podcast: 摳
Podcast: 摳
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AI Study Notes for 摳
摳 (kōu) vs 吝啬 (lìn sè) — use 摳 for informal descriptions of stinginess, while 吝啬 is more formal or literary.
Usage of 摳 is typically informal, so it's best suited for casual conversations rather than formal writing. A common mistake is to confuse it with other similar-sounding words. Be mindful of its negative connotation when describing someone's behavior regarding finances.
Although 摳 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be related to other terms around finance and behavior, such as 钱 (qián - money) and 吝啬 (lìnsè - stingy). Focus on recognizing its informal usage and practicing with colloquial expressions.
Learners often mistakenly use 摳 to describe someone who is simply careful with their money, instead of recognizing its negative implication. For example, saying '他很摳' (Tā hěn kōu - He is very careful) should be corrected to avoid misinterpretation.
Pronunciation of 摳
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Etymology of 摳
Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 区 represents the sound. Simplified form of 摳.
hand
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 摳
Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 区 represents the sound. Simplified form of 摳.
- 1The meaning half扌 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half區 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayhand
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 摳? 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
What type of character formation is 摳?
Decomposition of 摳
Identify the Components
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How to say to lift, to raise; tight-fisted in Chinese
“to lift, to raise; tight-fisted” in Chinese is摳
The character 摳 (kōu) primarily means to lift or raise something. It can also describe a person's tendency to be tight-fisted or stingy, indicating a reluctance to spend money or share resources. This term is often used in informal contexts to characterize someone's financial habits.
When to use 摳
Usage of 摳 is typically informal, so it's best suited for casual conversations rather than formal writing. A common mistake is to confuse it with other similar-sounding words. Be mindful of its negative connotation when describing someone's behavior regarding finances.
摳 or something close to it
摳 (kōu) vs 吝啬 (lìn sè) — use 摳 for informal descriptions of stinginess, while 吝啬 is more formal or literary.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 摳 to describe someone who is simply careful with their money, instead of recognizing its negative implication. For example, saying '他很摳' (Tā hěn kōu - He is very careful) should be corrected to avoid misinterpretation.
Write 摳
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Practice writing 摳 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 摳
Compound Meaning
What does 抠 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 摳
No, 摳 is primarily used in informal contexts and is not suitable for formal writing.
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