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夺取 (duó qǔ) — to seize, to capture; to wrest control of

Definition

夺取 means to seize or wrest something (a place, position, market share) by force or effort — broader than 夺冠/夺魁, which are fixed for winning a title. 比 占领 more abstract, applies to control or status, not just territory.

verb
to seizeto captureto wrest control of

Examples

  • 夺取。
    Zhèng fǔ jūn duó qǔ le pàn jūn zhàn jù de chéng shì.
    Government forces captured the city held by the rebels.
  • 夺取。
    Tā nǔ lì duó qǔ zì jǐ zài xiǎo zǔ zhōng de zhǔ dǎo dì wèi.
    He is striving to seize a dominant position in the group.
  • 夺取。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī duó qǔ le shì chǎng fèn é de dì yī míng.
    This company has captured the top market share.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

夺duóseize by force
取qǔtake

In 夺取, 夺 carries the forceful seizing, while 取 adds the ordinary sense of getting something; together they mean to seize or capture.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 奪; 夺 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 奪 includes 又 (a hand), 雀 (a bird), and 衣 (clothing), showing a hand seizing a bird from someone; the simplified 夺 is a later abbreviation.

Open 夺 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

取 pairs 又 (hand) with 耳 (ear), showing a hand taking an ear, as in taking the ear of fallen prey.

Open 取 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6Conflict & Agreement

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