Meanings of 撷
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About 撷
Podcast: 撷
Podcast: 撷
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AI Study Notes for 撷
撷 (xié) vs 采 (cǎi) — use 撷 when emphasizing the careful or delicate gathering of items, whereas 采 refers more generally to collecting or picking, often in a broader or more utilitarian sense.
Learners often confuse 撷 with other similar verbs like 拾 (shí), which also means 'to pick up' but often refers to picking up discarded items. 撷 is more formal and is used in literary or poetic contexts. Be mindful of the tone; the second tone (xié) should be pronounced clearly.
Though 撷 is not included in the HSK levels, it can be connected to words related to gathering or collecting. Focus on context, as this character is often found in literary texts, enhancing your vocabulary for more advanced reading.
Learners sometimes confuse 撷 with 拾 (shí). For example, saying '我撷一个垃圾' (Wǒ xié yīgè lèsè) instead of '我拾一个垃圾' (Wǒ shí yīgè lèsè) is incorrect. Remember that 撷 is used in more refined contexts.
Pronunciation of 撷
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Etymology of 撷
hand
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 撷
- 1The meaning half扌 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half颉 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 撷? 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 撷
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How to say to pick up, to gather, to acquire; to hold in one's lap in Chinese
“to pick up, to gather, to acquire; to hold in one's lap” in Chinese is撷
The character 撷 (xié) refers to the action of picking up, gathering, or collecting items, often with care. It can also imply holding something delicately in one's lap. This term is commonly used in literary contexts or when describing the act of collecting flowers or herbs.
When to use 撷
Learners often confuse 撷 with other similar verbs like 拾 (shí), which also means 'to pick up' but often refers to picking up discarded items. 撷 is more formal and is used in literary or poetic contexts. Be mindful of the tone; the second tone (xié) should be pronounced clearly.
撷 or something close to it
撷 (xié) vs 采 (cǎi) — use 撷 when emphasizing the careful or delicate gathering of items, whereas 采 refers more generally to collecting or picking, often in a broader or more utilitarian sense.
What learners get wrong
Learners sometimes confuse 撷 with 拾 (shí). For example, saying '我撷一个垃圾' (Wǒ xié yīgè lèsè) instead of '我拾一个垃圾' (Wǒ shí yīgè lèsè) is incorrect. Remember that 撷 is used in more refined contexts.
Write 撷
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Practice writing 撷 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 撷
Compound Meaning
What does 撷取 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 撷
It is pronounced as 'xié' in the second tone.
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