抓阄 (zhuā jiū) — to draw lots (to decide by random selection)

Definition

A separable verb meaning 'to draw lots' to decide something randomly — often used when choices are equally fair. Split the verb: 抓阄 → 抓个阄 / 抓完阄.

verb
to draw lots (to decide by random selection)

Examples

  • 阄。
    Wǒ men zhuā gè jiū jué dìng shuí xiān zǒu ba.
    Let's draw lots to decide who goes first.
  • 阄，。
    Dà jiā yǐ jīng zhuā wán jiū le, jié guǒ chū lái le.
    Everyone has finished drawing lots, and the result is out.
  • 抓阄。
    Tā men yòng zhuā jiū de fāng shì xuǎn chū le zǔ zhǎng.
    They used drawing lots to select the group leader.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

抓zhuāgrab
阄jiūlot

To grab lots means to draw lots for a random decision.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 鬮; 阄 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
鬥鬥dòuto fight; to compete
Sound part声符shēngfú
龜
龜guī鬮jiū(r)
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 鬮 pairs 鬥, meaning to fight or compete, with 龜, which gives the sound; the simplified 阄 is a later shorthand.

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