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擘 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
擘bòthumb; to rip, to tear; to split, to analyzeg, 17 strokes, radical 手, rank #63920, Very Hard
擘bòto breakunknown, 17 strokes, radical 手, rank #63920, Very Hard
擘bòto pierceunknown, 17 strokes, radical 手, rank #63920, Very Hard
擘bāithumb; to rip, to tear; to split, to analyzeg, 17 strokes, radical 手, rank #63920, Very Hard
擘bāito breakunknown, 17 strokes, radical 手, rank #63920, Very Hard
擘bāito pierceunknown, 17 strokes, radical 手, rank #63920, Very Hard
bāi(bai1)
primary
T1
  1. 1thumb; to rip, to tear; to split, to analyze
  2. 2to break
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March 24, 2026

擘bāi(bai1)

The character 擘 (bāi) primarily refers to the thumb, but it also conveys the actions of ripping, tearing, or splitting something apart. It is commonly used in contexts involving physical actions that involve forceful separation or analysis, particularly with regard to breaking down ideas or materials.

Strokes17Radical手Frequency#63920DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, the thumb is often associated with strength and the ability to handle tasks effectively, reflecting the character's connotation of power in actions like tearing or splitting.

Memory Tip

Imagine using your thumb (the main meaning of 擘) to rip apart a piece of paper. The thumb is strong, and its action of tearing symbolizes the character's meaning. The radical 扌 (hand) emphasizes the physical nature of these actions.

Meanings of 擘

bāi(bai1)
primary
1thumb; to rip, to tear; to split, to analyze
2to break
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 擘

擘Simplified
17Strokes
手Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 擘

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Podcast: 擘

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AI Study Notes for 擘

Quick Contrast

撕 (sī) — use 擘 (bāi) when emphasizing the action of splitting or tearing apart with force, while 撕 (sī) focuses more on the act of tearing without the same connotation of forcefulness.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 擘 with similar characters that have softer meanings or are used in different contexts. This character is more often used in formal or literary contexts rather than casual conversation. Common collocations include 擘画 (bāihuà) meaning to delineate or outline.

HSK Study Tips

While 擘 is not part of HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your comprehension of related terms in advanced contexts. Focus on its application in literary texts and its connection to actions involving hands, as this will help reinforce your grasp of similar characters.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mix up 擘 with characters that describe gentler actions, like 切 (qiē, to cut). For example, saying '我用擘切水果' (I use my thumb to cut fruit) is incorrect; it should be '我用刀切水果' (I use a knife to cut fruit).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 擘

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Etymology of 擘

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

hand

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

Origin

擘 = 手 + 辟. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 擘

IDS Structure⿱辟手
擘Full Character
=
辟bi4
top
手shou3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 擘?

How to say thumb; to rip, to tear; to split, to analyze in Chinese

“thumb; to rip, to tear; to split, to analyze” in Chinese is擘bò

The character 擘 (bāi) primarily refers to the thumb, but it also conveys the actions of ripping, tearing, or splitting something apart. It is commonly used in contexts involving physical actions that involve forceful separation or analysis, particularly with regard to breaking down ideas or materials.

When to use 擘

Be cautious not to confuse 擘 with similar characters that have softer meanings or are used in different contexts. This character is more often used in formal or literary contexts rather than casual conversation. Common collocations include 擘画 (bāihuà) meaning to delineate or outline.

擘 or something close to it

撕 (sī) — use 擘 (bāi) when emphasizing the action of splitting or tearing apart with force, while 撕 (sī) focuses more on the act of tearing without the same connotation of forcefulness.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mix up 擘 with characters that describe gentler actions, like 切 (qiē, to cut). For example, saying '我用擘切水果' (I use my thumb to cut fruit) is incorrect; it should be '我用刀切水果' (I use a knife to cut fruit).

Write 擘

擘

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

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Word Family of 擘

Words Containing This Character2
擘bāithumb
巨擘thumb
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 擘

What does 巨擘 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 擘

The primary meaning of 擘 is 'thumb,' but it also implies actions like tearing or splitting.

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