摘取 (zhāi qǔ) — to pick; to pluck; to extract (flowers, fruit, or key points)

Definition

verb
to pickto pluckto extract (flowers, fruit, or key points)

Examples

  • 摘取。
    Tā cóng shù shàng zhāi qǔ le yí gè píng guǒ.
    He picked an apple from the tree.
  • 摘取。
    Zhè piān wén zhāng zhāi qǔ le yuán wén de jīng huá.
    This article extracts the essence of the original text.
  • 摘取。
    Yán jiū rén yuán cóng shí yàn shù jù zhōng zhāi qǔ le guān jiàn xìn xī.
    The researchers extracted key information from the experimental data.

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.

摘 means pick and 取 means take, together expressing plucking something and taking it away.

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
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
啇
啇dí摘zhāi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

摘 is made from 扌, a hand, and 啇, which gives its sound.

Open 摘 →

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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