Definition
拔 (bá) means 'to pull out' something fixed (e.g., a tooth, a nail) — it's more forceful than 抽 (chōu), which suggests drawing from in between or whipping. In the sense of 'promote', 拔 is a concise verb often used in compounds like 提拔, while 提拔 itself is the full verb for promoting someone. As 'stand out', 拔 appears in set phrases like 拔得头筹 (to win first place).
verb
to pull outto extract (from a fixed position)to selectto promote (talented people)to stand outto surpass (in ability or quality)
Easily confused
- 吧basound-alike(modal particle) used to indicate a suggestion, a tentative guess, or to soften a statement
- 把bǎsound-alike(classifier) for things with handles, or for handfuls and bunches
- 八bāsound-alikeeight
- 疤bāsound-alikescar (permanent mark on skin or surface)
- 扒bāsound-aliketo peel, to skin (remove the outer covering)
- 坝bàsound-alikedam; dike; embankment
Examples
- 拔。Tā qù yīyuàn bá le yì kē yá.He went to the hospital to have a tooth pulled.
- 。Gōngsī cóng nèibù xuǎnbá le yì pī yōuxiù réncái.The company selected a group of outstanding talents from within.
- 拔。Tā zài zhè cì bǐsài zhōng bá dé tóu chóu.He won first place in this competition.
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