HSK 7, unknown, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1667, Hard
扯
chě
hokey
HSK 7, unknown, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1667, Hard
chě(che3) T3
1to pull
2to tear
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
扯chě(che3)
The character 扯 (chě) primarily means 'to pull' or 'to tear,' often used in contexts involving physical action, such as pulling a thread or tearing fabric. Additionally, it is used informally to describe casual conversations or gossip, reflecting a more relaxed or playful tone. In some regions, it can also mean something that is considered ridiculous or nonsensical.
Strokes7Radical扌Frequency#1667DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In modern Chinese culture, casual conversations or 'chats' are an important part of social interaction, often used to build relationships and network. The informal usage of 扯 reflects this cultural tendency towards casual social engagement.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person pulling a thread (扯) from an old shirt, causing it to tear. The sound of 'chě' can be associated with the sound of a thread snapping. Visualize this scene whenever you hear or see the character to help you remember its meaning.
Meanings of 扯
chě(che3)
1to pull
2to tear
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 扯
扯Simplified
7Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#1667Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5BCT✓CEFRC2
Podcast: 扯
Podcast: 扯
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AI Study Notes for 扯
Quick Contrast
扯 (pull) vs 拉 (pull, draw) — use 扯 for a more informal or playful context.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person pulling a thread (扯) from an old shirt, causing it to tear. The sound of 'chě' can be associated with the sound of a thread snapping. Visualize this scene whenever you hear or see the character to help you remember its meaning.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 扯 with similar-sounding characters, so it's important to pay attention to context to avoid misunderstandings. This word is primarily used in casual conversation, making it less suitable for formal contexts. Common collocations include 扯闲话 (chě xiánhuà) meaning 'to chat casually' and 扯破 (chě pò) meaning 'to tear apart.'
HSK Study Tips
While 扯 is not included in the official HSK levels, it connects with other verbs related to physical actions or communication, such as 拉 (lā, to pull) and 谈 (tán, to talk). Students should focus on using this word in conversational practice to build fluency.
Cultural Note
In modern Chinese culture, casual conversations or 'chats' are an important part of social interaction, often used to build relationships and network. The informal usage of 扯 reflects this cultural tendency towards casual social engagement.
Common Mistakes
Learners may mistakenly use 扯 in formal situations, leading to awkwardness. For example, saying 扯闲话 in a business meeting would be inappropriate; instead, use 谈话 (tánhuà) for a more formal tone.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 扯
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Grammar Patterns of 扯
扯 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 example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
She ripped off her dress and let it fall to the floor.
7
这本书里都是些饶有趣味的闲谈瞎扯。
zhè běn shū lǐ dū shì xiē ráo yǒu qù wèi de xián tán xiā chě。
The book is enjoyable hokum.
8
他留神听着从身边走过的姑娘们嘴里在闲扯着什么。
tā liú shén tīng zháo cóng shēn biān zǒu guò de gū niáng mén zuǐ lǐ zài xián chě zháo shí mó。
He listened to chattering maids as they passed by.
9
女粉丝冲破保安的阻拦，撕扯他的衣裳。
nǚ fěn sī chōng pò bǎo ān de zǔ lán， ， sī chě tā de yī。
Female fans fought their way past bodyguards and tore at his clothes.
10
那家伙就爱胡扯，而且一说起来就没完没了。
nà jiā huǒ jiù ài hú chě， ， ér qiě yī shuō qǐ lái jiù méi wán méi。
The guy just loves to yap, and will do so at length.
Cultural Notes for 扯
🏮Cultural insight
In modern Chinese culture, casual conversations or 'chats' are an important part of social interaction, often used to build relationships and network. The informal usage of 扯 reflects this cultural tendency towards casual social engagement.
Word Family of 扯
Words Containing This Character20
扯chěto pull
胡扯to chatter
牵扯qiānchěto involve牽扯
扯淡to talk nonsense
拉扯to drag
瞎扯to talk nonsense
扯皮to wrangle
撕扯to tear apart
扯谎to tell a lie扯謊
闲扯to chat閒扯
拉拉扯扯to tug at
扯平to make even
东拉西扯to talk about this and that (idiom); to ramble incoherently東拉西扯
扯破tear apart
扯谈to talk nonsense (dialect)扯談
掰扯to debate
扯后腿to be a drag or hindrance on sb扯後腿
扯裂rip
扯嗓子to raise one's voice
攀扯to implicate
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 扯 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 扯
No, while it primarily means 'to pull' or 'to tear,' it is also commonly used for informal conversations or gossip.
扯 is generally used in informal contexts and should be avoided in formal writing or speeches.
Common phrases include 扯闲话 (to chat casually) and 扯淡 (to talk nonsense).
