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扒 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
to hold on toHSK 7, v, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to rake upHSK 7, v, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to cling toHSK 7, v, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to stealHSK 7, v, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to dig upHSK 7, v, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to braiseHSK 7, v, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to rakeHSK 7, v, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to crawlHSK 7, v, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to push asideHSK 7, v, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to climbHSK 7, v, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to pull outHSK 7, v, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to strip offHSK 7, v, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to scratch, to dig up; to crouch, to crawlHSK 7, v, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to peelHSK 7, unknown, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to skinHSK 7, unknown, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to tearHSK 7, unknown, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to pull downHSK 7, unknown, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to cling to (sth on which one is climbing)HSK 7, unknown, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to digHSK 7, unknown, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to hold on toHSK 7, v, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to rake upHSK 7, v, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to cling toHSK 7, v, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to stealHSK 7, v, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to dig upHSK 7, v, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to braiseHSK 7, v, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to rakeHSK 7, v, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to crawlHSK 7, v, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to push asideHSK 7, v, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to climbHSK 7, v, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to pull outHSK 7, v, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to strip offHSK 7, v, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to scratch, to dig up; to crouch, to crawlHSK 7, v, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to peelHSK 7, unknown, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to skinHSK 7, unknown, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to tearHSK 7, unknown, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to pull downHSK 7, unknown, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to cling to (sth on which one is climbing)HSK 7, unknown, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
to digHSK 7, unknown, 5 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8261, Hard
(ba1)
primary
T1
  1. 1to hold on to
  2. 2to rake up
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(ba1)

The character 扒 (bā) primarily means to scrape or peel off something, often with a sense of force or urgency. It can also imply actions like digging up, stealing, or clinging to something. Common usage contexts include both physical actions, like peeling fruit, and metaphorical uses, such as 'clinging to ideas' or 'digging up information'.

Strokes5RadicalFrequency#8261DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese cuisine, the technique of '扒' is often used in cooking methods like braising, where ingredients are layered and cooked together, reflecting a cultural emphasis on the balance of flavors and textures in a dish.

Memory Tip

Imagine a raccoon (which sounds like 'bā' when it rummages) using its paws to peel off the layers of a fruit to get to the juicy center. The radical 扌 (hands) emphasizes the action of scraping or peeling, reinforcing the character's meaning.

Meanings of 扒

(ba1)
primary
1to hold on to
2to rake up
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 扒

Simplified
5Strokes
Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#8261Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 扒

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Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 扒

Quick Contrast

扒 (bā) vs 挖 (wā): Use 扒 for scraping or peeling off, while 挖 specifically refers to digging into something, often with a tool.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a raccoon (which sounds like 'bā' when it rummages) using its paws to peel off the layers of a fruit to get to the juicy center. The radical 扌 (hands) emphasizes the action of scraping or peeling, reinforcing the character's meaning.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 扒 with similar-sounding characters like 把 (bǎ), which has a different meaning related to handling. The verb can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but usage varies; for example, it's more commonly used for physical actions rather than abstract concepts.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, 扒 connects with other advanced verbs that describe physical actions or behaviors. Students should focus on the various contexts in which 扒 can be applied, especially in everyday conversation and more abstract discussions.

Cultural Note

In Chinese cuisine, the technique of '扒' is often used in cooking methods like braising, where ingredients are layered and cooked together, reflecting a cultural emphasis on the balance of flavors and textures in a dish.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 扒 with 把 (bǎ), leading to incorrect phrases like '把皮' instead of 扒皮 (bā pí) for 'to peel'. Always remember that 扒 emphasizes scraping or peeling rather than handling.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 扒

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Etymology of 扒

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

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 八 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

hand

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 扒?

Decomposition of 扒

IDS Structure⿰扌八
Full Character
=
shou3
left
ba1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 扒?

Write 扒

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 扒

扒 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 19 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 5

Complete the Sentence

拥挤的市场是____手大展身手的好地方。

Crowded markets are a happy hunting ground for pickpockets.

Example Sentences for 扒 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
拥挤的市场是扒手大展身手的好地方。

yōng jǐ de shì cháng shì bā shǒu dà zhǎn shēn shǒu de hǎo dì fāng。

Crowded markets are a happy hunting ground for pickpockets.
2
那只猫又把我种的那些幼苗扒出来了!

nà zhī māo yòu bǎ wǒ zhǒng de nà xiē yòu miáo bā chū lái le!

That cat has scratched up all my young plants again!
3
就剩下我用指尖扒着悬空在几百英尺高的地方。

jiù shèng xià wǒ yòng zhǐ jiān bā zháo xuán kōng zài jī bǎi yīng chǐ gāo de dì fāng。

I was left hanging by my finger-tips over a drop of hundreds of feet.
4
马迪根的马用蹄子扒着地面。

mǎ dí gēn de mǎ yòng tí zǐ bā zháo dì miàn。

Madigan's horse pawed the ground.
5
胡胡涂涂的扒搂了两碗饭, 他觉得非常的无聊.

hú hú tú tú de bā lǒu le liǎng wǎn fàn, , tā jué dé fēi cháng de wú.

He swallowed two bowls of rice unthinkingly, feeling quite fed up.
6
他把鞋袜一扒, 光着脚趟水.

tā bǎ xié wà yī bā, , guāng zháo jiǎo tàng.

Taking off his shoes and socks , he waded across barefoot.
7
在布鲁塞尔机场,他被扒手盯上,钱包被偷走了。

zài bù lǔ sāi ěr jī cháng, , tā bèi bā shǒu dīng, shàng , qián bāo bèi tōu。

At Brussels airport he fell victim to pickpockets who pinched his wallet.
8
我们扒下了湿透的衣服。

wǒ mén bā xià le shī tòu de yī fú。

We stripped off our sodden clothes.
9
他们扒光了我的衣服。

tā mén bā guāng le wǒ de yī fú。

They stripped me naked.
10
他犹豫不决地站了一会儿,用手杖扒拉一阵沟里的东西.

tā yóu yù bù jué dì zhàn le yī huì ér, , yòng shǒu zhàng bā lā yī zhèn gōu lǐ de dōng.

He stood a moment irresolutely prodding the much in the ditch.

Cultural Notes for 扒

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese cuisine, the technique of '扒' is often used in cooking methods like braising, where ingredients are layered and cooked together, reflecting a cultural emphasis on the balance of flavors and textures in a dish.

Word Family of 扒

Words Containing This Character10
to peel
扒手pickpocket
扒窃to steal扒竊
扒开to pry open or apart扒開
扒拉to push lightly
扒车to pull oneself up onto a moving vehicle扒車
扒灰incest between father-in-law and daughter-in-law
扒糕buckwheat pudding (snack of buckwheat noodles with sauce)
扒犁sledge
扒钉cramp扒釘
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 扒 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 扒

You can find 扒 used in phrases like 扒皮 (bā pí), meaning 'to peel', and 扒拉 (bā lā), which can mean 'to scrape or dig up'.