HSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1281, Medium
抱
bào
to carry (in one's arms)
HSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1281, Medium
抱
bào
to hug
HSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1281, Medium
抱
bào
to embrace
HSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1281, Medium
抱
bào
to surround
HSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1281, Medium
抱
bào
to cherish
HSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1281, Medium
抱
bào
to embrace, to hold in one's arms; to enfold
HSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1281, Medium
bào(bao4) T4
1to hold
2to carry (in one's arms)
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March 24, 2026
抱bào(bao4)
The character 抱 (bào) means to hold, carry, or hug something or someone in one’s arms. It conveys a sense of warmth and affection, often used in both literal and metaphorical contexts, such as embracing ideas or cherished beliefs.
Strokes8Radical扌Frequency#1281DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, hugging is less common than in Western cultures, often reserved for close family or friends. The concept of 抱 extends to the idea of holding onto one's heritage and traditions warmly and lovingly.
Memory Tip
Imagine a big bear (the radical '抱' resembles a bear hugging a tree) embracing its young cub. The sound 'bào' can be likened to the bear saying 'bow' while wrapping its arms around the cub, helping you remember both the pronunciation and meaning.
Meanings of 抱
bào(bao4)
1to hold
2to carry (in one's arms)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 抱
抱Simplified
8Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#1281Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 抱
Podcast: 抱
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AI Study Notes for 抱
Quick Contrast
抱 (bào) vs 拥 (yōng) — use 抱 for holding someone in a warm, affectionate manner, while 拥 emphasizes a more formal or collective embrace.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a big bear (the radical '抱' resembles a bear hugging a tree) embracing its young cub. The sound 'bào' can be likened to the bear saying 'bow' while wrapping its arms around the cub, helping you remember both the pronunciation and meaning.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone, as 'bào' has a falling tone. It's often used in both formal and informal contexts, but when discussing emotions, it tends to be more informal. Common collocations include 抱歉 (bàoqiàn, to apologize) and 拥抱 (yōngbào, to hug).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 抱 connects with other action verbs. Focus on using it in sentences about relationships or emotions, as it often accompanies discussions about feelings and bonds between people.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, hugging is less common than in Western cultures, often reserved for close family or friends. The concept of 抱 extends to the idea of holding onto one's heritage and traditions warmly and lovingly.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 抱 with 拥抱 (yōngbào). While both mean to hug, 拥抱 is more formal and suggests a tighter embrace. For instance, saying '我拥抱我的朋友' (Wǒ yōngbào wǒ de péngyǒu) is more appropriate when expressing affection in a close friendship.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 抱
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Grammar Patterns of 抱
抱 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
The officials felt taken for granted and grumbled loudly.
10
我抱着她吻了她一下。
wǒ bào zháo tā wěn le tā yī xià。
I put my arms around her and gave her a kiss.
Cultural Notes for 抱
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, hugging is often seen as a way to express affection and warmth. It is common among family members and friends, especially in more intimate settings.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, hugging is less common than in Western cultures, often reserved for close family or friends. The concept of 抱 extends to the idea of holding onto one's heritage and traditions warmly and lovingly.
📜Proverb
The saying '抱团取暖' (bào tuán qǔ nuǎn) means to embrace each other for warmth, symbolizing the importance of unity and support in difficult times.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, hugging is more frequently practiced as a greeting, while in China, it is often reserved for more intimate relationships, making the act of 抱 more meaningful.
Word Family of 抱
Words Containing This Character20
抱歉bàoqiànto be sorry
抱bàoto hold
抱怨bàoyuànto complain
拥抱yōngbàoto embrace擁抱
怀抱huáibàoto hug懷抱
抱拳to cup one fist in the other hand (as a sign of respect)
抱负bàofùaspiration抱負
抱抱to hug
环抱to encircle環抱
抱头痛哭to weep disconsolately抱頭痛哭
打抱不平to fight for justice
搂抱to hug摟抱
临时抱佛脚doing things at the last minute臨時抱佛腳
合抱to wrap one's arm around (used to describe the girth of a tree trunk)
抱佛脚panic measures in place of timely preparation抱佛腳
抱大腿(coll.) to cling to sb influential or famous
抱病to be ill
抱持to harbor (doubts etc)
抱养adopt (a child)抱養
抱不平to be outraged by an injustice
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 抱歉 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 抱
Yes, 抱 (bào) can be used in both formal and informal contexts. While it is often used in casual conversations to describe physical affection, it can also be employed in more formal situations to convey emotional support or care.
抱 (bào) and 拿 (ná) both relate to holding, but they have different connotations. 抱 emphasizes holding someone or something closely, often in an affectionate way, while 拿 simply means to take or hold something without the emotional context.
抱 (bào) means 'to hold' or 'to hug' in Chinese. It can also convey the idea of carrying someone in your arms or embracing them. Additionally, it can indicate the act of cherishing or surrounding something.
To use 抱 (bào) in a sentence, you can say '我抱着我的孩子' (Wǒ bào zhe wǒ de háizi), which means 'I am holding my child.' It can also be used in expressions like '抱歉' (bàoqiàn), which means 'to apologize' and shows the verb's versatility.
You can say '我抱着我的狗' (Wǒ bàozhe wǒ de gǒu) which means 'I am holding my dog.'
No, 抱 can also be used for objects, like saying '抱着书' (bàozhe shū) meaning 'holding a book.'
Common phrases include '抱歉' (bàoqiàn, sorry) and '拥抱' (yōngbào, to embrace).
