Meanings of 撬
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About 撬
Podcast: 撬
Podcast: 撬
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AI Study Notes for 撬
撬 (qiào) vs 拆 (chāi) — use 撬 when emphasizing lifting or prying open, while 拆 focuses on taking apart or dismantling.
Be mindful that 撬 is often used in informal contexts, especially when referring to physical actions. It can be confused with other lifting verbs like 提 (tí) or 抬 (tái), which are more general. Common collocations include 撬开 (qiàokāi, to pry open) and 撬门 (qiàomén, to pry open a door).
Although 撬 is not in the official HSK list, it connects with other action verbs related to physical movement found in lower levels, such as 提 (tí, lift) and 拿 (ná, take). Focus on its usage in practical scenarios to enhance understanding.
Learners often confuse 撬 with 提 (tí) or 抬 (tái), which are also related to lifting but used in different contexts. For example, saying '我撬起这个盒子' (wǒ qiàoqǐ zhège hézi, I pry up this box) is incorrect; it should be '我提起这个盒子' (wǒ tíqǐ zhège hézi).
Pronunciation of 撬
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Etymology of 撬
hand
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 撬
- 1The meaning half扌 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half毳 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 撬? 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 撬
Identify the Components
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How to say to lift, to raise, to pry off a lid in Chinese
“to lift, to raise, to pry off a lid” in Chinese is撬
撬 (qiào) means to lift or pry something open, typically using a tool or lever. It is commonly used in contexts involving physical actions like opening a lid or removing something that is fixed in place. The nuance often implies using force or effort to achieve the action.
When to use 撬
Be mindful that 撬 is often used in informal contexts, especially when referring to physical actions. It can be confused with other lifting verbs like 提 (tí) or 抬 (tái), which are more general. Common collocations include 撬开 (qiàokāi, to pry open) and 撬门 (qiàomén, to pry open a door).
撬 or something close to it
撬 (qiào) vs 拆 (chāi) — use 撬 when emphasizing lifting or prying open, while 拆 focuses on taking apart or dismantling.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 撬 with 提 (tí) or 抬 (tái), which are also related to lifting but used in different contexts. For example, saying '我撬起这个盒子' (wǒ qiàoqǐ zhège hézi, I pry up this box) is incorrect; it should be '我提起这个盒子' (wǒ tíqǐ zhège hézi).
Write 撬
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Practice writing 撬 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 撬
撬 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Complete the Sentence
我和艾莉森只得从他口中____出谈话内容。
Alison and I had to prize conversation out of him.
Example Sentences for 撬 (4)
Word Family of 撬
Compound Meaning
What does 撬 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 撬
Common phrases include 撬开 (qiàokāi, to pry open) and 撬门 (qiàomén, to pry open a door).
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