(jiǎo) — to stir, to mix; to disturb, to annoy

Definition

搅 covers two distinct senses: physically stirring (e.g. milk) vs. figuratively disturbing or messing something up. The literal sense is narrower than 搅拌; the figurative sense is more disruptive than the polite 打搅.

verb
to stirto mixto disturbto annoy

Examples

  • Qǐng bǎ niú nǎi jiǎo yí xià.
    Please stir the milk.
  • Bié jiǎo rǎo tā xiū xi.
    Don't disturb his rest.
  • Tā bǎ wǒ de jì huà jiǎo luàn le.
    He messed up my plan.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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 攪; 搅 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
Written in full asshǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
juéjiǎo
Same sound today

The traditional form 攪 uses 扌 (hand) to show the action and 覺 for its sound; the simplified 搅 is a later shorthand.

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