Meanings of 揸
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About 揸
Podcast: 揸
Podcast: 揸
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AI Study Notes for 揸
抓 (zhuā) — use 揸 when emphasizing the act of holding something in hand, while 抓 focuses more on the action of seizing or catching.
Learners often confuse 揸 with similar characters like 抓 (zhuā) which also means to grasp but has a different nuance. Use 揸 in informal contexts; in formal writing, you might prefer 抓 or 取 (qǔ). Be mindful of the tone; ensure it's pronounced with a high level tone (zhā).
While 揸 is not included in HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to the HSK 2 level words like 拿 (ná - to take) and 抓 (zhuā - to catch). Focus on understanding the physicality of actions described by these verbs to strengthen your vocabulary related to handling.
Learners often mix up 揸 with 抓, using 揸 in contexts where a stronger action is required, such as '揸住球' instead of '抓住球' (to catch the ball). Remember, use 揸 for gentler, more casual actions.
Pronunciation of 揸
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Etymology of 揸
hand
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 揸
- 1The meaning half扌 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half查 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 揸? 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 揸
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How to say handful; to grasp, to seize in Chinese
“handful; to grasp, to seize” in Chinese is揸
The character 揸 (zhā) primarily means to grasp or seize something, often with a focus on holding it in one's hand. It can also imply stretching out the fingers to take hold of an object. This word is typically used in informal contexts related to physical handling or manipulation.
When to use 揸
Learners often confuse 揸 with similar characters like 抓 (zhuā) which also means to grasp but has a different nuance. Use 揸 in informal contexts; in formal writing, you might prefer 抓 or 取 (qǔ). Be mindful of the tone; ensure it's pronounced with a high level tone (zhā).
揸 or something close to it
抓 (zhuā) — use 揸 when emphasizing the act of holding something in hand, while 抓 focuses more on the action of seizing or catching.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mix up 揸 with 抓, using 揸 in contexts where a stronger action is required, such as '揸住球' instead of '抓住球' (to catch the ball). Remember, use 揸 for gentler, more casual actions.
Write 揸
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Practice writing 揸 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 揸
Compound Meaning
What does 揸 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 揸
While both mean to grasp, 揸 is more informal and often implies a gentle hold, whereas 抓 typically means to catch or grab with more force.
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