Definition
搂 (lǒu) means 'to hug' in a more casual, enveloping way (e.g., putting an arm around someone) compared to 抱 (bào) for a standard two-arm hug, 拥抱 (yōng bào) which is formal, and 怀抱 (huái bào) which is literary. It also means to gather up scattered items or, derogatorily, to rake in money illicitly.
verb
to hugto embraceto gather upto collect (scattered items)(derogatory) to extortto rake in (money) illicitly
Easily confused
- 楼lóulook-alikebuilding (with more than one story)
- 漏lòusound-aliketo leak (liquid, gas, etc.)
- 缕lǚlook-alike(classifier) for slender, wispy things: strands (of hair), wisps (of smoke/mist), beams (of light), puffs (of fragrance)
Examples
- 搂。Nà duì qínglǚ zài gōngyuán lǐ jǐnjǐn lǒu zhe.That couple was hugging tightly in the park.
- 搂，。Tā bǎ sànluò de yīfu lǒu dào yìqǐ, fàng jìn le yīguì.He gathered the scattered clothes together and put them into the wardrobe.
- 搂，。Tā lìyòng zhíwù zhī biàn lǒu le bù shǎo qián, zuìhòu bèi chá le.He used his position to rake in a lot of money, and eventually got investigated.
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