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擢 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
擢zhuóto pull up, to raise; to selectg, 17 strokes, radical 扌, rank #83881, Very Hard
擢zhuóto pull outunknown, 17 strokes, radical 扌, rank #83881, Very Hard
擢zhuóto promoteunknown, 17 strokes, radical 扌, rank #83881, Very Hard
zhuó(zhuo2) T2
  1. 1to pull up, to raise; to select
  2. 2to pull out
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

擢zhuó(zhuo2)

The character 擢 (zhuó) primarily means to pull up or raise something, often in the context of selecting or promoting individuals or items. It is commonly used in formal settings such as job promotions or academic selections, where someone is 'pulled up' to a higher position or status.

Strokes17Radical扌Frequency#83881DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of promoting individuals is deeply linked to the Confucian value of meritocracy, where one's abilities and contributions are recognized and rewarded.

Memory Tip

Imagine a gardener (the radical 扌, meaning 'hand') gently pulling up a plant (the character's overall form) to promote its growth. This image connects the act of raising or selecting (擢) with the nurturing process of gardening.

Meanings of 擢

zhuó(zhuo2)
1to pull up, to raise; to select
2to pull out
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 擢

擢Simplified
17Strokes
扌Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 擢

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Podcast: 擢

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AI Study Notes for 擢

Quick Contrast

擢 (zhuó) vs 提 (tí) — use 擢 for formal selections or promotions, while 提 is more general for lifting or raising.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 擢, as using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely. It is typically used in formal contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversations. Common collocations include 擢升 (to promote) and 擢用 (to select for use).

HSK Study Tips

While 擢 is not listed in the HSK levels, it connects to HSK level 5 vocabulary related to promotion and selection, such as 选 (xuǎn, to choose). Focus on understanding its usage in formal contexts to enhance your vocabulary related to career and education.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 擢 with the similar-sounding 夺 (duó, to seize), leading to incorrect interpretations. Always remember that 擢 specifically relates to raising or promoting, not seizing.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 擢

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Etymology of 擢

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

hand

Semantic (meaning)扌
+
Phonetic (sound)隹
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 擢

  1. 1The meaning half扌 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half隹 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayhand
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 擢? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 擢?

Decomposition of 擢

IDS Structure⿰扌翟
擢Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
翟Di2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 擢?

How to say to pull up, to raise; to select in Chinese

“to pull up, to raise; to select” in Chinese is擢zhuó

The character 擢 (zhuó) primarily means to pull up or raise something, often in the context of selecting or promoting individuals or items. It is commonly used in formal settings such as job promotions or academic selections, where someone is 'pulled up' to a higher position or status.

When to use 擢

Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 擢, as using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely. It is typically used in formal contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversations. Common collocations include 擢升 (to promote) and 擢用 (to select for use).

擢 or something close to it

擢 (zhuó) vs 提 (tí) — use 擢 for formal selections or promotions, while 提 is more general for lifting or raising.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 擢 with the similar-sounding 夺 (duó, to seize), leading to incorrect interpretations. Always remember that 擢 specifically relates to raising or promoting, not seizing.

Write 擢

擢

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 擢

Words Containing This Character5
擢zhuóto pull out
擢升to upgrade
拔擢select the best people for promotion
擢第to pass the civil service examination (in imperial China)
擢发难数fig. innumerable (crimes)擢髮難數
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 擢 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 擢

Common phrases include 擢升 (to promote) and 擢用 (to select for use).

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