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掳 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
掳lǔto capture, to seizevg, 11 strokes, radical 扌, rank #15131, Very Hard
lǔ(lu3)lu T3
  1. 1to capture, to seize
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March 24, 2026

掳(擄)lǔ(lu3)

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.

Strokes11Radical扌Frequency#15131DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese history, the concept of capturing or seizing has been prevalent in military strategies and territorial expansion, reflecting the importance of power dynamics in ancient China. This character may appear in discussions around famous battles or historical figures known for their conquests.

Memory tip

Imagine a strong hand (the radical 扌) grabbing hold of a prized treasure (the character's overall form). This vivid image of seizing something valuable helps recall both the meaning and the pronunciation 'lǔ,' linking the action of capturing to the hand's grip.

Meanings of 掳

lǔ(lu3)
1to capture, to seize
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 掳

掳Simplified
擄Traditional
11Strokes
扌Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 掳

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Podcast: 掳

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AI study notes for 掳

Quick Contrast

掳 (lǔ) vs 抓 (zhuā) — use 掳 when emphasizing a forceful capture, while 抓 focuses on the act of grabbing or catching.

Usage Notes

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.

HSK Study Tips

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.

Common Mistakes

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.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 掳

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Etymology of 掳

Formation typeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory hint

To catch 虏 someone by the hand 扌; 虏 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 掳?

Decomposition of 掳

IDS Structure⿰扌虏
掳Full character
=
扌shou3
left
虏lu3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 掳?

How to say to capture, to seize in Chinese

“to capture, to seize” in Chinese is掳lǔ

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

掳

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

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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.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

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)

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1
父子俩被那些掳走他们的人推到了枪口前。

fùzǐ liǎ bèi nàxiē lǔ zǒu tāmen de rén tuī dào le qiāng kǒu qián。

The man and his son had been pushed into the line of fire by their captors.

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Word Family of 掳

Words containing this character3
掳lǔto capture擄
掳掠to loot擄掠
掳人勒赎kidnapping for ransom擄人勒贖
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 掳

What does 掳掠 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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