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搡 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
搡sǎngto push over; to push backv, 13 strokes, radical 扌, rank #24338, Very Hard
搡sǎngpush backunknown, 13 strokes, radical 扌, rank #24338, Very Hard
搡sǎngpush overunknown, 13 strokes, radical 扌, rank #24338, Very Hard
sǎng(sang3) T3
  1. 1to push over; to push back
  2. 2push back
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March 24, 2026

搡sǎng(sang3)

The character 搡 (sǎng) means to push over or push back. It is commonly used in contexts where one physically moves something or someone with force, often implying a sudden or vigorous action. This term can also describe more figurative uses, such as pushing back against an idea or proposal.

Strokes13Radical扌Frequency#24338DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, physical gestures like pushing are sometimes used in games or during festivals, where people might playfully 'push' each other in a friendly manner. This reflects the importance of social interactions in Chinese communal activities.

Memory Tip

Imagine a strong person using their hands (the radical 手, which means hand) to 'push over' a large object. The sound 'sǎng' can be remembered by associating it with the action of someone exerting effort to move something heavy, almost as if they are 'sang' a heavy tune while pushing.

Meanings of 搡

sǎng(sang3)
1to push over; to push back
2push back
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 搡

搡Simplified
13Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 搡

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Podcast: 搡

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AI Study Notes for 搡

Quick Contrast

推 (tuī) - use 推 when emphasizing a gentle or directed push, while 搡 implies a more forceful or vigorous action.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 搡 with similar verbs like 推 (tuī), which also means 'to push' but is more general and does not imply the same forceful action. This term is more informal and is often used in everyday conversation rather than formal writing. It's commonly paired with objects that can be pushed.

HSK Study Tips

Although 搡 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it is useful for students familiar with basic motion verbs. Connecting it with other verbs like 推 (tuī) and 拉 (lā) will help learners understand the nuances of physical actions in Mandarin.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 搡 with 推 (tuī), leading to sentences like '我推他' (wǒ tuī tā) when they mean to convey a forceful action, which would be better expressed as '我搡他' (wǒ sǎng tā). Remember, 搡 implies more vigorous action.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 搡

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Etymology of 搡

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

hand

Semantic (meaning)扌
+
Phonetic (sound)桑
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

搡 = 扌 + 桑. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 搡

IDS Structure⿰扌桑
搡Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
桑Sang1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 搡?

How to say to push over; to push back in Chinese

“to push over; to push back” in Chinese is搡sǎng

The character 搡 (sǎng) means to push over or push back. It is commonly used in contexts where one physically moves something or someone with force, often implying a sudden or vigorous action. This term can also describe more figurative uses, such as pushing back against an idea or proposal.

When to use 搡

Be cautious not to confuse 搡 with similar verbs like 推 (tuī), which also means 'to push' but is more general and does not imply the same forceful action. This term is more informal and is often used in everyday conversation rather than formal writing. It's commonly paired with objects that can be pushed.

搡 or something close to it

推 (tuī) - use 推 when emphasizing a gentle or directed push, while 搡 implies a more forceful or vigorous action.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 搡 with 推 (tuī), leading to sentences like '我推他' (wǒ tuī tā) when they mean to convey a forceful action, which would be better expressed as '我搡他' (wǒ sǎng tā). Remember, 搡 implies more vigorous action.

Write 搡

搡

Practice writing 搡 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 搡

搡 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

他被人粗鲁地推____到了一边。

He had to be bundled unceremoniously out of the way.

Example Sentences for 搡 (5)

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1
他被人粗鲁地推搡到了一边。

tā bèi rén cū lǔ dì tuī sǎng dào le yī biān。

He had to be bundled unceremoniously out of the way.
2
他们被推来搡去,受到大肆的谩骂攻击。

tā mén bèi tuī lái sǎng qù, , shòu dào dà sì de mán mà gōng。

They were jostled and subjected to a torrent of verbal abuse.
3
2,000个人互相推推搡搡,撞在家具上。

2,000 2,000 gè rén hù xiāng tuī tuī sǎng, sǎng , zhuàng zài jiā。

You get 2,000 people jostling each other and bumping into furniture.
4
一群顾客你推我搡地挤到百货公司的展示柜台前.

yī qún gù kè nǐ tuī wǒ sǎng dì jǐ dào bǎi huò gōng sī de zhǎn shì guì tái qián.

A throng of shoppers pushed against one another to the display tables of the department store.
5
他们俩现在胸对着胸, 大口喘着粗气, 推推搡搡,怒目相视.

tā mén liǎng xiàn zài xiōng duì zháo xiōng, , dà kǒu chuǎn zháo cū, qì , tuī tuī, sǎng sǎng , nù.

They were chest to chest, breathing fiercely , pushing and glaring.

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Word Family of 搡

Words Containing This Character3
搡sǎngpush back
推搡to shove
推推搡搡to push and shove
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 搡

What does 推搡 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 搡

No, 搡 is typically used in informal contexts and conversations.

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