Definition
拿 (ná) is the everyday word for 'to take' or 'to hold' something in your hand. It is more general than 抓 (zhuā 'to grab, seize with fingers') and 握 (wò 'to grip firmly, as in a handshake'). For catching a ball, 拿 and 接 (jiē) overlap, but 接 is specifically for receiving something thrown or dropped.
verb
to holdto take (in one's hand)to catchto seize (a ball, a criminal)
Easily confused
- 哈hālook-alike(interjection) ha! (expressing surprise, realization, or satisfaction)
- 那nàsound-alike(pronoun) that; those
- 拾shílook-aliketo pick up
- 哪nǎsound-alikewhich (interrogative pronoun, used before measure words or nouns)
- 给gěilook-alike(verb) to give
Examples
- 拿。Tā ná zhe yí gè bēizi.He is holding a cup.
- 。Tā ná dào le nà ge qiú.He caught that ball.
- 拿。Qǐng ná yì bēi shuǐ lái.Please bring a glass of water.
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