掐 (qiā) — to pinch, to nip (between thumb and finger); to pick (flowers, leaves) by pinching off; (colloquial) to fight, to quarrel
Definition
掐 (qiā) is to pinch or nip with thumb and finger — sharper than 捏 (which can also mean to mold or fabricate). The slang sense 'to fight/quarrel' is colloquial, lighter than 吵架.
verb
to pinchto nip (between thumb and finger)to pick (flowers, leaves) by pinching off(colloquial) to fightto quarrel
Examples
- 掐。Tā qīng qīng de qiā le yí xià wǒ de liǎn.He gently pinched my cheek.
- 掐。Nǎi nai zài yuàn zi lǐ qiā le jǐ duǒ mò lì huā.Grandma picked a few jasmine flowers in the yard.
- 掐。Nà liǎng gè tóng shì wèi xiǎo shì zài bàn gōng shì qiā qǐ lái le.Those two colleagues started quarreling in the office over a small matter.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.