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March 24, 2026
摘zhāi(zhai1)
The character 摘 (zhāi) primarily means 'to take' or 'to pick,' often used in contexts involving harvesting fruit or selecting items. It can also imply the act of borrowing or removing something, such as taking off accessories like glasses or a hat. This versatility allows it to be applied in both literal and metaphorical situations.
Strokes14Radical扌Frequency#4142DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of picking fruit is often associated with gatherings and celebrations, such as fruit picking during festivals. This character can evoke images of family outings to orchards, reflecting the importance of nature and community.
Memory Tip
Imagine a gardener named 'Zhai' who carefully picks ripe fruits from trees. The character 摘 combines the radical for 'hand' (扌) indicating action, with a character suggesting 'to take.' Visualize Zhai using his hands to pluck the best fruits, linking both the action of picking and the sound of the word.
Meanings of 摘
zhāi(zhai1)
1to take
2to borrow
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 摘
摘Simplified
14Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#4142Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 摘
Podcast: 摘
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AI Study Notes for 摘
Quick Contrast
采 (cǎi) — use 摘 when referring to picking or taking something with care, while 采 implies gathering or collecting, often in a more general or extensive sense.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the contexts in which you use 摘, as it can imply a selective action rather than a random one. It is often used in both formal and informal settings, but ensure you pair it with appropriate objects, like '摘苹果' (to pick apples). Remember that the fourth tone must be pronounced correctly to avoid confusion with similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 摘 connects well with other verbs that describe actions, like 取 (qǔ, to take) and 拿 (ná, to hold). Students should practice using 摘 in varied contexts to reinforce its meanings, especially in sentences involving objects that can be picked or selected.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 摘 with the verb 取 (qǔ), which means 'to take' in a more general sense. For example, saying '我取花' (Wǒ qǔ huā) instead of '我摘花' (Wǒ zhāi huā) can be incorrect if you specifically mean 'to pick flowers.' Ensure to use 摘 for selective actions involving picking.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 摘
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2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 摘? 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 摘?
Decomposition of 摘
IDS Structure⿰扌啇
摘Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
啇di4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 摘?
How to say to take in Chinese
“to take” in Chinese is摘zhāi
The character 摘 (zhāi) primarily means 'to take' or 'to pick,' often used in contexts involving harvesting fruit or selecting items. It can also imply the act of borrowing or removing something, such as taking off accessories like glasses or a hat. This versatility allows it to be applied in both literal and metaphorical situations.
When to use 摘
Be cautious with the contexts in which you use 摘, as it can imply a selective action rather than a random one. It is often used in both formal and informal settings, but ensure you pair it with appropriate objects, like '摘苹果' (to pick apples). Remember that the fourth tone must be pronounced correctly to avoid confusion with similar-sounding words.
摘 or something close to it
采 (cǎi) — use 摘 when referring to picking or taking something with care, while 采 implies gathering or collecting, often in a more general or extensive sense.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 摘 with the verb 取 (qǔ), which means 'to take' in a more general sense. For example, saying '我取花' (Wǒ qǔ huā) instead of '我摘花' (Wǒ zhāi huā) can be incorrect if you specifically mean 'to pick flowers.' Ensure to use 摘 for selective actions involving picking.
Write 摘
摘
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Practice writing 摘 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 摘
摘 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 8 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.
是…的 emphasis是 + [V] + 的
HSK 3
This pattern emphasizes the action of the verb and specifies the context.
❝
这是我摘的花。
Zhè shì wǒ zhāi de huā.
This is the flower I picked.
Exercise 1 of 1
Build the Sentence
This is the flower I picked.
Tap tokens to build the sentence
Common Confusions with 摘
摘 refers specifically to picking or plucking, usually plants or fruits, while 取 means to take or fetch.
1
我去取书。
摘 refers specifically to picking or plucking, usually plants or fruits, while 取 means to take or fetch.
💡Think of 摘 as picking from nature, while 取 is just taking anything.
Usage Notes for 摘
Mixing up 摘 and 取Common Error
Ensure to use 摘 when referring specifically to picking or plucking.
1
我摘了一个苹果。
I picked an apple.
Exercise 1 of 1
Fill in the Blank
我____了一个苹果。
I picked an apple.
Example Sentences for 摘 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
下面的材料是他工作的摘要。
xià miàn de cái liào shì tā gōng zuò de zhāi yào。
The material below is a distillation of his work.
2
我用完善后的技术摘掉了纤维瘤。
wǒ yòng wán shàn hòu de jì shù zhāi diào le xiān wéi liú。
I removed the fibroid tumours, using the techniques that I have perfected.
