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摄取 (shè qǔ) — (verb) to absorb, to take in (e.g., nutrients, vitamins); (verb) to take a photograph, to shoot (a film or video)

Definition

A formal verb used mainly in scientific/medical contexts for the body absorbing nutrients, and in media contexts for shooting photos or video. Less common in everyday speech than simpler verbs like 拍 or 吸收.

verb
to absorbto take in (e.g., nutrients, vitamins)to take a photographto shoot (a film or video)

Examples

  • 摄取。
    Rén tǐ xū yào cóng shí wù zhōng shè qǔ yíng yǎng.
    The human body needs to absorb nutrients from food.
  • 摄取。
    Tā zhèng zài gěi mó tè shè qǔ zhào piàn.
    He is taking a photo of the model.
  • 摄取。
    Dǎo yǎn yòng wú rén jī shè qǔ le zhěng zuò chéng shì de huà miàn.
    The director used a drone to shoot footage of the whole city.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

摄shètake in
取qǔtake

The 摄 of taking in and the 取 of taking combine to mean absorb or capture.

Characters in this word

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 攝; 摄 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
聶
聶niè攝shè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 攝 combines 扌 (hand) with 聶 as a sound part; the simplified 摄 is a later shorthand.

Open 摄 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

取 pairs 又 (hand) with 耳 (ear), showing a hand taking an ear, as in taking the ear of fallen prey.

Open 取 →
Appears in
HSK 2.0 Level 6BiologyPhotography & Design

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