抓取 (zhuā qǔ) — to grasp and take; to seize

Definition

verb
to grasp and taketo seize

Examples

  • 抓取。
    Xiǎo tōu zhuā qǔ le qián bāo jiù pǎo.
    The thief grabbed the wallet and ran.
  • 抓取，。
    Tā yòng lì zhuā qǔ shéng zi, cái méi yǒu diào xià qù.
    He grabbed the rope firmly and didn't fall down.
  • 抓取。
    Měng shòu xùn sù zhuā qǔ le liè wù.
    The beast quickly seized its prey.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

抓zhuāgrasp
取qǔtake

抓取 combines 抓 grasp and 取 take, giving the sense of seizing.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
爪
爪zhuǎ抓zhuā
Same sound today

抓 is built from 手 (hand) and 爪. The hand part points to actions like grab, catch, or scratch, while 爪 gives the sound.

Open 抓 →

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 →

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