Meanings of 抻
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About 抻
Podcast: 抻
Podcast: 抻
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AI Study Notes for 抻
拉 (lā) vs 扯 (chě) — use 抻 (chēn) when emphasizing the act of stretching or drawing out something gradually, rather than just pulling or tearing.
Be cautious of using 抻 in formal contexts, as it is more common in informal speech. A common mistake is confusing 抻 with 拉 (lā), which also means 'to pull', but is used more broadly. The collocation 抻开 (chēn kāi) means 'to stretch open' and is frequently used.
While 抻 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is helpful for intermediate learners to understand physical actions. This word connects with other action verbs, so learners should focus on similar verbs like 拉 (lā) and 推 (tuī) to expand their vocabulary.
Learners often confuse 抻 with 拉, using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我拉面团' (Wǒ lā miàntuán) instead of '我抻面团' (Wǒ chēn miàntuán) when specifically referring to stretching dough is incorrect.
Pronunciation of 抻
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Etymology of 抻
hand
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 抻
- 1The meaning half扌 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half申 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 抻? 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 抻
Identify the Components
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How to say to pull in Chinese
“to pull” in Chinese is抻
The character 抻 (chēn) means 'to pull', 'to stretch', or 'to draw something out'. It is commonly used in contexts involving physical actions, such as pulling a rope or stretching dough. The verb conveys an action that involves extension or elongation.
When to use 抻
Be cautious of using 抻 in formal contexts, as it is more common in informal speech. A common mistake is confusing 抻 with 拉 (lā), which also means 'to pull', but is used more broadly. The collocation 抻开 (chēn kāi) means 'to stretch open' and is frequently used.
抻 or something close to it
拉 (lā) vs 扯 (chě) — use 抻 (chēn) when emphasizing the act of stretching or drawing out something gradually, rather than just pulling or tearing.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 抻 with 拉, using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我拉面团' (Wǒ lā miàntuán) instead of '我抻面团' (Wǒ chēn miàntuán) when specifically referring to stretching dough is incorrect.
Write 抻
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Practice writing 抻 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 抻
Compound Meaning
What does 抻 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 抻
You can say '我在抻面团' (Wǒ zài chēn miàntuán) which means 'I am stretching the dough'.
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