搔 (sāo) — to scratch (with fingernails or claws, e.g. an itch)

Definition

A more formal/literary verb for 'scratching' an itch (with fingernails or claws). In everyday speech, 抓 is the common choice; 搔 emphasizes the action itself or appears in set phrases like 搔首弄姿.

verb
to scratch (with fingernails or claws, e.g. an itch)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 。
    Māo zài sāo yǎng.
    The cat is scratching an itch.
  • ，搔。
    Tā jué de bèi hěn yǎng, yì zhí sāo.
    He felt his back was itchy and kept scratching.
  • 搔。
    Bié yòng shǒu sāo wén zi bāo.
    Don't scratch mosquito bites with your hands.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
蚤
蚤zǎo搔sāo
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left part is 手 (hand), showing the action is done with a hand. The right part is 蚤 (flea, louse), which gives the character its sound.

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