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揪 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
揪
jiū
to pinch, to grasp
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8386, Very Hard
揪
jiū
to seize
HSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8386, Very Hard
揪
jiū
to clutch
HSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8386, Very Hard
揪
jiū
to hold tight
HSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8386, Very Hard
揪
jiū
to grip
HSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8386, Very Hard
jiū(jiu1)jiu T1
1to pinch, to grasp
2to seize
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March 24, 2026
揪jiū(jiu1)
The character 揪 (jiū) means to pinch or grasp something firmly, often using one's fingers. It is commonly used in contexts where something is seized or clutched tightly, whether it be a physical object or an abstract concept like an opportunity.
Strokes12Radical扌Frequency#8386DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In traditional Chinese medicine, the act of 'gripping' or 'holding' is often associated with therapies that involve touch, emphasizing the importance of physical connection in health practices.
Memory tip
Imagine a person named 'Jiu' who is gripping a large 'jewel' tightly in their hand. The character 揪 has the hand radical (扌) on the left, representing actions done by hands like pinching or gripping, linking the form to its meaning.
Meanings of 揪
jiū(jiu1)
1to pinch, to grasp
2to seize
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 揪
揪Simplified
12Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedBCT✓CEFRC2
Podcast: 揪
Podcast: 揪
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AI study notes for 揪
Quick Contrast
揪 (jiū) vs 抓 (zhuā) — use 揪 when emphasizing a tight grip with fingers, while 抓 indicates a more general act of grabbing or seizing.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 揪 (jiū); it should be pronounced with a high flat tone. This verb is often used in informal contexts and can be combined with words like 揪心 (to be worried) or 揪住 (to hold onto).
HSK Study Tips
Though 揪 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects to basic verbs related to actions and physical interactions at HSK level 1-2. Students should focus on practice using it in sentences to enhance their understanding of action verbs.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 揪 (jiū) with similar-sounding words. For example, using 揪 when they should use 抓 instead, as in saying 揪住机会 instead of 抓住机会 (seize the opportunity). Remember that 揪 implies a tighter grip.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 揪
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Knowing 揪 is seven skills, not one.
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揪 = 扌 + 秋. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 揪
IDS Structure⿰扌秋
揪Full character
=
扌shou3
left
秋Qiu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 揪?
How to say to pinch, to grasp in Chinese
“to pinch, to grasp” in Chinese is揪jiū
The character 揪 (jiū) means to pinch or grasp something firmly, often using one's fingers. It is commonly used in contexts where something is seized or clutched tightly, whether it be a physical object or an abstract concept like an opportunity.
When to use 揪
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 揪 (jiū); it should be pronounced with a high flat tone. This verb is often used in informal contexts and can be combined with words like 揪心 (to be worried) or 揪住 (to hold onto).
揪 or something close to it
揪 (jiū) vs 抓 (zhuā) — use 揪 when emphasizing a tight grip with fingers, while 抓 indicates a more general act of grabbing or seizing.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 揪 (jiū) with similar-sounding words. For example, using 揪 when they should use 抓 instead, as in saying 揪住机会 instead of 抓住机会 (seize the opportunity). Remember that 揪 implies a tighter grip.
Write 揪
揪
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Practice writing 揪 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 揪
揪 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 5 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
迈克一直____着他的领子把他往上猛举。
Mike kept snatching him up by the collar and jerking him up.
Example sentences for 揪 (11)
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1
迈克一直揪着他的领子把他往上猛举。
mài kè yìzhí jiū zhe tā de lǐng zi bǎ tā wǎng shàng měng jǔ。
Mike kept snatching him up by the collar and jerking him up.
2
她揪心事太多,人都显得老了.
tā jiū xīnshì tài duō, rén dōu xiǎnde lǎo le.
Too much worry had made her look an old woman.
3
伊丽莎白随手从他的翻领上揪下一根线头。
yī lí shā bái suíshǒu cóng tā de fān lǐng shàng jiū xià yī gēn xiàn tóu。
Elizabeth absent-mindedly picked a thread from his lapel.
4
伤口疼得揪心.
shāngkǒu téng de jiū xīn.
There was a gnawing pain from the wound.
5
因为他们揪着玉米耳朵掰玉米.
yīnwèi tāmen jiū zhe yùmǐ ěrduo bāi yùmǐ.
They pull corns by the ears.
6
小猫喜欢用爪子揪我的衣服。
Xiǎo māo xǐhuān yòng zhuǎzi jiū wǒ de yīfu.
The kitten likes to pinch my clothes with its claws.
7
他在紧张时总是揪自己的头发。
Tā zài jǐnzhāng shí zǒng shì jiū zìjǐ de tóufǎ.
He always pinches his hair when he's nervous.
8
孩子们在草地上玩耍，互相揪着衣角追逐。
Hái zǐ men zài cǎo dì shàng wán shuǎ, hù xiāng jiū zhe yī jiǎo zhuī zhú.
The children played on the grass, pinching each other's shirt corners as they chased each other.
9
他揪住树枝，小心翼翼地爬下悬崖。
Tā jiū zhù shù zhī, xiǎo xīn yì yì de pá xià xuán yá.
He grasped the tree branch cautiously as he climbed down the cliff.
10
她感到不安，手指不自觉地揪紧手帕。
Tā gǎn dào bù ān, shǒu zhǐ bù zì jué de jiū jǐn shǒu pà.
Feeling uneasy, her fingers unconsciously pinched the handkerchief tightly.
11
那只猴子调皮地揪着游客的帽子跑走了。
Nà zhī hóu zi tiáo pí de jiū zhe yóu kè de mào zi pǎo zǒu le.
The mischievous monkey pinched the tourist's hat and ran away.
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Word Family of 揪
Words containing this character3
揪jiūto seize
揪心worried
揪辫子to seize on weak points揪辮子
Exercise 1 of 2
Words with 揪
What does 揪心 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 揪
While both involve holding something, 揪 (jiū) emphasizes a firmer grip or pinch, whereas 抓 (zhuā) generally means to grab or catch.
Yes, it can be used figuratively, such as in the phrase 揪心, meaning to be anxious or worried.
It's more common in informal settings, particularly when describing actions involving grip or hold.
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