() — to crawl (on hands and knees); to climb (a surface); to get up (from lying down)

Definition

A versatile motion verb used for crawling on hands and knees, climbing a surface like a mountain or tree, or getting up from a lying position. For climbing mountains, 登 sounds more formal and written; for getting out of bed, use 起床.

verb
to crawl (on hands and knees)to climb (a surface)to get up (from lying down)

Examples

  • Xiǎo hái zài dì shàng pá.
    The child is crawling on the floor.
  • Tā xǐ huan pá shān.
    He likes to climb mountains.
  • Tā cóng chuáng shàng pá qǐ lái.
    He got up from the bed.

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
Sound part声符shēngfú
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

爬 pairs 爪, the part that gives the meaning, with 巴, the part that gives the sound.

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