撮 (cuō) — (classifier) for tufts of hair, grass, or simil…

Definition

Measure word for a small pinch or tuft (of hair, grass, wool, etc.). It sounds like 错 (cuò) but the tone differs — this one is first tone.

classifier

for tufts of hairgrassor similara small bunch

撮。
Tā jiǎn xià le yì cuō tóu fa liú zuò jì niàn.
She cut off a lock of hair to keep as a souvenir.
撮，。
Lù biān cháng zhe jǐ cuō yě cǎo, méi rén lǐ huì.
A few tufts of wild grass grew by the roadside, ignored by everyone.
撮。
Yì cuō yáng máo cóng yáng shēn shàng tuō luò.
A tuft of wool came off the sheep.

Sound + meaning

六书liùshū

形声xíngshēng

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

扌最撮

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒu

Sound part声符shēngfú

最

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

撮 pairs 扌, a form of 手, with 最, which gives the sound.

Appears in