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.
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.
Sound part声符shēngfú
臽
臽xiàn掐qiā
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
掐 pairs 手 (hand) with 臽, which gives the sound; the hand part points to an action done with the hand.
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