HSK 3, v, 8 strokes, radical 爪, rank #1451, Medium
爬
pá
to climb
HSK 3, v, 8 strokes, radical 爪, rank #1451, Medium
爬
pá
to get up or sit up
HSK 3, v, 8 strokes, radical 爪, rank #1451, Medium
爬
pá
to climb, to scramble; to crawl, to creep
HSK 3, v, 8 strokes, radical 爪, rank #1451, Medium
pá(pa2) T2
1to crawl
2to climb
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March 24, 2026
爬pá(pa2)
The character 爬 (pá) primarily means 'to crawl' or 'to climb'. It is commonly used in contexts involving movement, such as a child learning to crawl or a person climbing a mountain. The character conveys a sense of upward or forward motion, typically associated with physical exertion.
Strokes8Radical爪Frequency#1451DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of climbing is often associated with perseverance and the journey to success, much like the famous saying 'climbing the heights' (登高) which symbolizes ambition and overcoming challenges.
Memory Tip
Imagine a little child trying to 'climb' up a steep hill, using their hands and knees to 'crawl' up. The left side of the character, 父, looks like a person with arms outstretched, and the right side, 爬, resembles a mountain being scaled. 'Pá' sounds like 'paw', which is what a child might use to crawl.
Meanings of 爬
pá(pa2)
1to crawl
2to climb
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 爬
爬Simplified
8Strokes
爪Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#1451Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 爬
Podcast: 爬
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AI Study Notes for 爬
Quick Contrast
攀 (pān) - use 爬 (pá) when referring to crawling or climbing in a more general or informal sense, while 攀 (pān) implies a more formal or skillful climbing.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a little child trying to 'climb' up a steep hill, using their hands and knees to 'crawl' up. The left side of the character, 父, looks like a person with arms outstretched, and the right side, 爬, resembles a mountain being scaled. 'Pá' sounds like 'paw', which is what a child might use to crawl.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 爬, as it is pronounced with the second tone (pá). Common mistakes include confusing it with other climbing-related verbs like 升 (shēng) which means 'to rise' in a more abstract sense. It is typically used in informal contexts, but can also be found in descriptive narratives.
HSK Study Tips
While 爬 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects well with other movement-related verbs like 跑 (pǎo, to run) and 走 (zǒu, to walk). Students should focus on the physical actions and contexts in which these verbs are used, enhancing comprehension of movement in Mandarin.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of climbing is often associated with perseverance and the journey to success, much like the famous saying 'climbing the heights' (登高) which symbolizes ambition and overcoming challenges.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 爬 with the character 跑 (pǎo), which means 'to run.' For example, saying '我在爬步' (Wǒ zài pá bù, 'I am crawling steps') instead of '我在爬山' (Wǒ zài pá shān, 'I am climbing a mountain') is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 爬
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Grammar Patterns of 爬
爬 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 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
The higher we climbed, the more awe-inspiring the scenery became.
6
他爬进来的时候，那件易碎的工艺品摇晃起来。
tā pá jìn lái de shí hòu， ， nà jiàn yì suì de gōng yì pǐn yáo huǎng qǐ。
The frail craft rocked as he clambered in.
7
他拎起手提箱,爬上了楼梯.
tā līn qǐ shǒu tí xiāng, , pá shàng le lóu.
He picked up his suitcase and climbed the stairs.
8
他转身不理他们，噔噔噔地爬上了山。
tā zhuǎn shēn bù lǐ tā mén， ， dēng dēng dēng dì pá shàng le。
He turned his back on them and stomped off up the hill.
9
她又开始沿着陡峭的山路往上爬。
tā yòu kāi shǐ yán zháo dǒu qiào de shān lù wǎng shàng pá。
She started once again on the steep upward climb.
10
她爬上楼梯，顺着楼上的走廊走去。
tā pá shàng lóu tī， ， shùn zháo lóu shàng de zǒu láng zǒu。
She climbed the steps and proceeded along the upstairs hallway.
Cultural Notes for 爬
💡Did you know?
'爬' is often used in Chinese to describe climbing mountains, which are significant in Chinese culture for spirituality and nature appreciation.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of climbing is often associated with perseverance and the journey to success, much like the famous saying 'climbing the heights' (登高) which symbolizes ambition and overcoming challenges.
Word Family of 爬
Words Containing This Character19
爬páto crawl
爬山páshānhiking
爬行to crawl
爬升to rise
攀爬to climb
摸爬滚打to go through challenging experiences摸爬滾打
爬虫reptile (old or common word for 爬行動物|爬行动物)爬蟲
爬行动物reptile爬行動物
爬墙to climb a wall爬牆
连滚带爬liángǔndàipárolling and crawling連滾帶爬
爬格子(oral) to write (esp. for a living)
爬山虎Boston ivy or Japanese creeper (Parthenocissus tricuspidata)
爬山涉水to climb mountains and wade rivers (idiom); fig. to make a long and difficult journey
爬犁sledge
爬行类reptiles爬行類
爬虫类reptiles爬蟲類
吃里爬外to double-cross one's employer吃裡爬外
狗爬式dog paddle (swimming style)
爬泳crawl (swimming stroke)
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 爬 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 爬
While both terms refer to ascending, 爬 (pá) specifically emphasizes the physical act of crawling or climbing, often with a connotation of moving slowly or using hands and feet. In English, 'climbing' may imply a more vigorous or vertical ascent.
Use 爬 (pá) when referring specifically to crawling or climbing, often in a physical context. 上 (shàng), on the other hand, is more general and can mean 'up' in various contexts, such as getting on or going up without necessarily implying a crawling motion.
爬 (pá) means to crawl or to climb. It can refer to the action of climbing up something, like a mountain or stairs, or the act of crawling as a baby does. This character is commonly used in everyday language when discussing movement or activities that involve elevation.
You can use 爬 (pá) in a sentence like '我喜欢爬山' (Wǒ xǐhuān pá shān), which means 'I like to climb mountains.' It can also be used in a context like '小猫在爬' (Xiǎo māo zài pá), meaning 'The kitten is crawling.' This illustrates both the crawling and climbing aspects of the verb.
You can say '我在爬山' (Wǒ zài pá shān), meaning 'I am climbing a mountain.'
While it generally refers to physical climbing or crawling, it can also metaphorically refer to climbing the social or corporate ladder.
Synonyms include 升 (shēng, to rise) and 攀 (pān, to scale), but each has its specific nuances.
