抓起 (zhuā qǐ) — to grab up (from a surface), to snatch up

Definition

抓起 is a verb-object (离合词) meaning to grab or snatch something up, often quickly or decisively. The object can be inserted: 抓起了电话 / 抓起一把沙子.

verb
to grab up (from a surface)to snatch up

Examples

  • 抓起。
    Tā cóng dì shàng zhuā qǐ yì bǎ shā zi.
    He grabbed up a handful of sand from the ground.
  • 抓起，。
    Tā zhuā qǐ diàn huà, mǎ shàng dǎ gěi le jīng lǐ.
    She snatched up the phone and immediately called the manager.
  • 抓起。
    Jǐng chá zhuā qǐ xián yí rén de yī lǐng.
    The police officer grabbed the suspect by the collar (lifted his collar).

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

抓zhuāgrab
起qǐup

The 抓 'grab' action is completed with 起 'up' to mean grabbing something up.

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
手手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
爪
爪zhuǎ抓zhuā
Same sound today

抓 is built from 手 (hand) and 爪. The hand part points to actions like grab, catch, or scratch, while 爪 gives the sound.

Open 抓 →

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
走走zǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
巳
巳sì起qǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

起 is made from 走 and 巳: 走 is the part connected with walking or running, and 巳 gives the sound.

Open 起 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.