HSK 5, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1379, Medium
抽
chōu
to pull out from in between
HSK 5, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1379, Medium
抽
chōu
to remove part of the whole
HSK 5, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1379, Medium
抽
chōu
(of certain plants) to sprout or bud
HSK 5, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1379, Medium
抽
chōu
to whip or thrash
HSK 5, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1379, Medium
抽
chōu
to draw out, to pull out; to sprout
HSK 5, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1379, Medium
chōu(chou1) T1
1to draw out
2to pull out from in between
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
抽chōu(chou1)
The verb 抽 (chōu) primarily means to draw out or pull something from a larger whole. It can also refer to the act of sprouting in plants, or in a more colloquial sense, it can indicate the action of whipping or thrashing. This word is often used in contexts involving extracting or selecting something from a group, such as drawing a card from a deck.
Strokes8Radical扌Frequency#1379DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the practice of 抽签 (drawing lots) is often used in decision-making processes, such as choosing participants in a lottery or making choices in traditional ceremonies, highlighting the importance of luck and chance.
Memory Tip
Imagine a magician (抽) pulling a rabbit out of a hat. The character has the radical for hand (手) representing the action of drawing or pulling, combined with a component suggesting movement. Picture the magician's hand moving in a dramatic flourish as they '抽' the rabbit, reinforcing both meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 抽
chōu(chou1)
1to draw out
2to pull out from in between
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 抽
抽Simplified
8Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#1379Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2BCT✓CEFRB1
Podcast: 抽
Podcast: 抽
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
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AI Study Notes for 抽
Quick Contrast
抽 (chōu) vs 拔 (bá) — use 抽 when referring to drawing out or selecting from a group, while 拔 specifically means to pull out or extract something firmly rooted, like a tooth.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a magician (抽) pulling a rabbit out of a hat. The character has the radical for hand (手) representing the action of drawing or pulling, combined with a component suggesting movement. Picture the magician's hand moving in a dramatic flourish as they '抽' the rabbit, reinforcing both meaning and pronunciation.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 抽 with similar verbs like 拔 (bá), which means to拔 out or uproot. 抽 is typically used in both formal and informal settings, but be cautious of using it in overly casual contexts. Common collocations include '抽签' (draw lots) and '抽烟' (smoke).
HSK Study Tips
Although 抽 is not currently in HSK vocabulary lists, it is relevant for learners at HSK 3 and above due to its frequent use in spoken and written contexts. Students should practice its usage in sentences related to drawing or selecting items and explore its various meanings.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the practice of 抽签 (drawing lots) is often used in decision-making processes, such as choosing participants in a lottery or making choices in traditional ceremonies, highlighting the importance of luck and chance.
Common Mistakes
Learners might mistakenly use 抽 when they mean to say 拔 (bá), especially when referring to pulling something out. For example, saying '我抽掉这根草' (I draw out this weed) should be corrected to '我拔掉这根草'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 抽
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Grammar Patterns of 抽
抽 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 6 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.
Used to emphasize the action or the manner of the action.
❝
这张纸是我抽出来的。
zhè zhāng zhǐ shì wǒ chōu chūlái de.
This piece of paper was drawn out by me.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
他不____烟了。
He doesn't smoke anymore.
Common Confusions with 抽
抽vs丑
chǒu
Often confused due to similar pronunciation but has a completely different meaning.
抽 usually implies a more deliberate action of pulling out or drawing, while 拉 is more general for pulling.
1
他在抽烟，和拉烟不一样。
抽 usually implies a more deliberate action of pulling out or drawing, while 拉 is more general for pulling.
💡Remember that 抽 is about drawing out something specific.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "to draw out"?
or
Usage Notes for 抽
Misuse of 抽Common Error
Learners often confuse 抽 with other verbs like 拉 and 拿. It's important to use 抽 specifically when referring to drawing out or pulling something from a specific place.
1
他抽出了一根烟。
He drew out a cigarette.
Exercise 1 of 1
Fill in the Blank
他____出了一根烟。
He drew out a cigarette.
Example Sentences for 抽 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我可以抽烟吗？
wǒ kě yǐ chōu yān ma？
Do you think it would be all right if I smoked?
2
用你最喜欢的香味熏香你的抽屉和衣柜。
yòng nǐ zuì xǐ huān de xiāng wèi xūn xiāng nǐ de chōu tì hé yī guì。
Scent your drawers and wardrobe with your favourite aromas.
3
目击证人称梅尔顿先生抽打了这匹马16鞭之多。
mù jī zhèng rén chēng méi ěr dùn xiān shēng chōu dǎ le zhè pǐ mǎ16 16 biān zhī。
Eye-witnesses claimed Mr Melton whipped the horse up to 16 times.
We delved through a sackful of letters to draw the winning name.
6
他一脚漂亮的凌空抽射，把球踢进了球门的远角。
tā yī jiǎo piāo liàng de líng kōng chōu shè， ， bǎ qiú tī jìn le qiú mén de yuǎn。
He volleyed the ball spectacularly into the far corner of the net.
7
他身体出现了神经性抽搐，开始不停地眨眼睛。
tā shēn tǐ chū xiàn le shén jīng xìng chōu chù， ， kāi shǐ bù tíng dì zhǎ yǎn。
He developed a nervous twitch and began to blink constantly.
8
他查看了一下收银机的抽屉，里面有钱。
tā chá kàn le yī xià shōu yín jī de chōu tì， ， lǐ miàn yǒu。
He checked the register. There was money in the till.
9
地方法规将规定在公共场合抽烟为非法。
dì fāng fǎ guī jiāng guī dìng zài gōng gòng cháng hé chōu yān wéi fēi fǎ。
By-laws are to make it illegal to smoke in public.
10
然后他抽了抽鼻子，发觉有一股烧焦的味道。
rán hòu tā chōu le chōu bí zǐ， ， fā jué yǒu yī gǔ shāo jiāo de wèi。
Then he sniffed. There was a smell of burning.
Exercise 1 of 1
Reorder the Sentence
Do you think it would be all right if I smoked?
Tap tokens to build the sentence
Cultural Notes for 抽
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the practice of 抽签 (drawing lots) is often used in decision-making processes, such as choosing participants in a lottery or making choices in traditional ceremonies, highlighting the importance of luck and chance.
Word Family of 抽
Compounds1
菗
Words Containing This Character20
抽chōuto draw out
抽烟chōuyānto smoke (a cigarette, tobacco)抽煙
抽屉chōutidrawer抽屜
抽奖chōujiǎnga lottery抽獎
抽出to take out
抽查random inspection
抽象chōuxiàngabstract
抽筋cramp
抽签chōuqiānto draw lots抽籤
抽取to extract
抽搐to twitch
抽空to find the time to do sth
抽调to transfer (personnel or material)抽調
抽样sample抽樣
抽身to withdraw
抽检sampling抽檢
抽血to take blood
抽风to ventilate抽風
抽打to whip
抽动to twitch抽動
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 抽 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 抽
Yes, 抽 (chōu) is often used in idiomatic expressions such as '抽烟' (chōu yān), which means 'to smoke.' This showcases its versatility in everyday language and various contexts.
抽 (chōu) can be used in various contexts, including physical actions like pulling or drawing out, as well as in expressions related to sprouting plants or whipping. Understanding these different uses can help learners apply the term more effectively in conversation.
抽 (chōu) means to draw out or pull something from within. It can also refer to the action of removing part of something or the process of certain plants sprouting or budding. Additionally, it can relate to the act of whipping or thrashing.
You can use 抽 (chōu) in a sentence like '我抽出一张纸' (Wǒ chōu chū yī zhāng zhǐ), which means 'I draw out a piece of paper.' It is often used in contexts related to pulling out or removing something from a larger group.
It means to smoke, specifically referring to the act of drawing tobacco smoke.
Yes, 抽 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but ensure the context is appropriate.
Common phrases include 抽签 (draw lots) and 抽水 (to draw water).
