HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #2896, Very Hard
拔
bá
to pull out
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #2896, Very Hard
拔
bá
to draw out by suction
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #2896, Very Hard
拔
bá
to select
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #2896, Very Hard
拔
bá
to pick
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #2896, Very Hard
拔
bá
to stand out (above level)
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #2896, Very Hard
拔
bá
to surpass
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #2896, Very Hard
拔
bá
to seize
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #2896, Very Hard
拔
bá
to uproot, to pull out; to select, to promote
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #2896, Very Hard
bá(ba2) T2
1to pull up
2to pull out
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March 24, 2026
拔bá(ba2)
The verb 拔 (bá) primarily means 'to pull up' or 'to pull out.' It can be used in various contexts, such as removing a plant from the ground or drawing something out, like a tooth. Additionally, it conveys the idea of surpassing or standing out among others, making it versatile in both literal and figurative uses.
Strokes8Radical扌Frequency#2896DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
拔 is commonly associated with traditional Chinese medicine, particularly in the context of tooth extraction. The practice of拔牙 (pulling teeth) is a significant aspect of dental care in Chinese culture and often comes with specific rituals and beliefs.
Memory Tip
Imagine a strong person pulling a stubborn weed out of the ground. The character 拔 looks like a person (the top part) pulling something (the bottom part) out of the earth. Think of the 'b' in '拔' as the 'brawn' needed to pull things out.
Meanings of 拔
bá(ba2)
1to pull up
2to pull out
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 拔
拔Simplified
8Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2896Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 拔
Podcast: 拔
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AI Study Notes for 拔
Quick Contrast
拔 (bá) vs 拔出 (bá chū) — use 拔 for the act of pulling out without specifying the result, while 拔出 emphasizes the completion of the action.
Usage Notes
Be cautious of using 拔 in the wrong context, as it can imply a forceful action. It's often used in both formal and informal settings, but be careful with collocations like 拔牙 (pull a tooth) or 拔苗助长 (to pull seedlings to help them grow), as misuse can lead to misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
While 拔 is not included in the HSK vocabulary list, it connects well with other action verbs. Students should focus on its usage in various contexts and its collocations to enhance their vocabulary and understanding of action verbs in Mandarin.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is to confuse 拔 with other similar-sounding characters. For example, learners might mistakenly use 罢 (bà) instead of 拔 (bá), which alters the meaning entirely. Remember: 拔 is about pulling out, while 罢 means to stop or cease.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 拔
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2The sound half犮 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 拔? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
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Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 拔?
Decomposition of 拔
IDS Structure⿰扌犮
拔Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
犮ba2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 拔?
How to say to pull up in Chinese
“to pull up” in Chinese is拔bá
The verb 拔 (bá) primarily means 'to pull up' or 'to pull out.' It can be used in various contexts, such as removing a plant from the ground or drawing something out, like a tooth. Additionally, it conveys the idea of surpassing or standing out among others, making it versatile in both literal and figurative uses.
When to use 拔
Be cautious of using 拔 in the wrong context, as it can imply a forceful action. It's often used in both formal and informal settings, but be careful with collocations like 拔牙 (pull a tooth) or 拔苗助长 (to pull seedlings to help them grow), as misuse can lead to misunderstandings.
拔 or something close to it
拔 (bá) vs 拔出 (bá chū) — use 拔 for the act of pulling out without specifying the result, while 拔出 emphasizes the completion of the action.
What learners get wrong
A common mistake is to confuse 拔 with other similar-sounding characters. For example, learners might mistakenly use 罢 (bà) instead of 拔 (bá), which alters the meaning entirely. Remember: 拔 is about pulling out, while 罢 means to stop or cease.
Write 拔
拔
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Practice writing 拔 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 拔
拔 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 9 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.
