"claw" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 87)
unknown, 4 strokes, radical 爫, Very Hard
zhǎo(zhao3) T3
1claws, nails, talons
2"claw" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 87)
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March 24, 2026
爫zhǎo(zhao3)
The character 爫 (zhǎo) refers to claws, nails, or talons and is commonly associated with animals, especially birds and reptiles. It serves as a radical in various Chinese characters, often conveying meanings related to grasping or holding.
Strokes4Radical爫Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the imagery of claws often symbolizes strength and aggression, particularly in martial arts and folklore where animals like dragons or tigers are revered for their power.
Memory Tip
Imagine a fierce animal's claws gripping tightly onto a branch. The character 爫 resembles claws curled around something, and the 'zh' sound in 'zhǎo' can remind you of a 'zooming' motion of an animal lunging forward with its claws.
Meanings of 爫
zhǎo(zhao3)
1claws, nails, talons
2"claw" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 87)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 爫
爫Simplified
4Strokes
爫Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 爫
Podcast: 爫
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AI Study Notes for 爫
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a fierce animal's claws gripping tightly onto a branch. The character 爫 resembles claws curled around something, and the 'zh' sound in 'zhǎo' can remind you of a 'zooming' motion of an animal lunging forward with its claws.
Usage Notes
When using 爫 in compound words, it often appears in more formal contexts related to nature or animals. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar radicals, such as 手 (shǒu), which means 'hand.' Always pay attention to the context in which it appears to choose the correct radical.
HSK Study Tips
While 爫 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it is useful for recognizing compound characters at higher levels. Focus on understanding how it combines with other radicals to form words related to animals or actions involving gripping.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the imagery of claws often symbolizes strength and aggression, particularly in martial arts and folklore where animals like dragons or tigers are revered for their power.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 爫 with the hand radical 手 (shǒu), leading to incorrect interpretations. For example, mixing up 爪 (claw) with 抓 (zhuā, to grasp or catch) can cause misunderstandings in meaning.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 爫
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Cultural Notes for 爫
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, the imagery of claws often symbolizes strength and aggression, particularly in martial arts and folklore where animals like dragons or tigers are revered for their power.
Word Family of 爫
Words Containing This Character1
爫zhǎo"claw" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 87)
Exercise 1 of 1
Compound Meaning
What does 爫 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 爫
Characters like 爪 (zhǎo), which also means 'claw' or 'nail', incorporate the 爫 radical.
No, 爫 is primarily found in written Chinese, especially in literary or formal contexts, rather than in everyday speech.
