括 (guā) — (bound form) to include, to comprise; (bound form) to bracket, to enclose; (bound form) to tighten, to tie up
Definition
Almost always used inside compounds; the standalone verb is rare. Most common in 包括 ('to include') and 括号 ('brackets / parentheses'), and in set words like 括约肌 ('sphincter').
bound form
to includeto compriseto bracketto encloseto tightento tie up
Examples
- 括。Zhè jiàn chèn shān hěn tǐng guā.This shirt is very crisp and neat.
- 括。Qǐng bǎ shéng zi guā jǐn.Please tighten the rope.
- ，‘’。Zài yī xué shàng, 'guā yuē jī' shì yí gè zhòng yào gài niàn.In medicine, the 'sphincter' is an important concept.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠯑
𠯑𠯑括kuò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
括 combines 手, a hand, with 𠯑, which gives the sound.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.