摘掉 (zhāi diào) — to remove (by picking/plucking); to take off; to get rid of

Definition

A separable verb (离合词) meaning to take off or remove something that was attached/placed (a hat, a label, a poster). Compared with 去掉, it emphasizes physically picking or pulling something off rather than abstract removal.

verb
to remove (by picking/plucking)to take offto get rid of

Examples

  • 摘掉，。
    Tā zhāi diào le mào zi, zǒu jìn le fáng jiān.
    He took off his hat and walked into the room.
  • 摘掉。
    Qǐng bǎ zhè zhāng hǎi bào zhāi diào.
    Please take down this poster.
  • 摘掉。
    Zhè ge biāo qiān hěn nán zhāi diào.
    This label is hard to remove.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

摘zhāipick
掉diàooff

摘 'pick' and 掉 'off' combine to mean taking something off by picking or removing it.

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 →

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
卓
卓zhuó掉diào
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

掉 is built from 扌 (a hand) and 卓, which gives the pronunciation.

Open 掉 →

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