扣 (kòu) — (verb) to deduct (money), to withhold; (verb) to fasten, to button up; (verb) to confiscate, to detain
Definition
扣 is the short verb for three distinct actions: fastening (扣扣子 button up), deducting money (扣除 from a pay/paycheck), and confiscating items. 扣留/扣押 name the more formal, legal-sounding 'detain/seize.'
verb
to deduct (money)to withholdto fastento button upto confiscateto detain
Examples
- 扣。Gōng sī měi gè yuè kòu wǒ de shuì.The company deducts taxes from my salary each month.
- 扣。Qǐng bǎ yī fu kòu hǎo.Please button your clothes.
- 扣。Jǐng chá kòu le tā de hù zhào.The police confiscated his passport.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
扣 puts 手 (hand) beside 口 (mouth); 口 gives the sound, while 手 shows it is about a hand action.
Appears in
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