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March 24, 2026
抓zhuā(zhua1)
The character 抓 (zhuā) primarily means 'to grab' or 'to catch'. It is often used in situations where someone is physically seizing something, such as catching a ball or grabbing someone's attention. The nuance of the term can also extend to contexts involving arrest or capturing someone, making it versatile in both literal and figurative senses.
Strokes7Radical扌Frequency#407DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 'grabbing' is often associated with quickness and decisiveness, especially in competitive environments like markets or negotiations. The phrase 抓住机会 (zhuā zhù jī huì) means 'to seize an opportunity', reflecting a proactive mindset valued in society.
Memory Tip
Think of 抓 (zhuā) as a hand (the radical 扌) reaching out to 'grab' something. Picture a hand with long fingers tightly clutching an item – this vivid imagery helps connect the character's form to its meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 抓
zhuā(zhua1)
1to grab
2to catch
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 抓
抓Simplified
7Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#407Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 抓
Podcast: 抓
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AI Study Notes for 抓
Quick Contrast
抓 (zhuā) vs 捕 (bǔ) — use 抓 for physical grabbing or catching, while 捕 is more about capturing, often in a broader or more abstract sense.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 抓 (zhuā) as a hand (the radical 扌) reaching out to 'grab' something. Picture a hand with long fingers tightly clutching an item – this vivid imagery helps connect the character's form to its meaning and pronunciation.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 抓 with other similar verbs like 拿 (ná - to take) or 把 (bǎ - to hold). It is important to use 抓 when the action specifically involves grabbing or catching, especially in informal contexts. Watch out for tone errors, as mispronouncing it could change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, 抓 connects to other action verbs that describe movement or physical interaction. Students should focus on practicing its use in real-life scenarios, such as sports or interactions with pets, to solidify understanding.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 'grabbing' is often associated with quickness and decisiveness, especially in competitive environments like markets or negotiations. The phrase 抓住机会 (zhuā zhù jī huì) means 'to seize an opportunity', reflecting a proactive mindset valued in society.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes incorrectly use 抓 in contexts that require 拿, such as saying '我抓这个书' instead of '我拿这个书' (I take this book). Always ensure that the context involves an action of grabbing or catching.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 抓
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Grammar Patterns of 抓
抓 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.
This pattern emphasizes the action or manner of the verb.
❝
他是抓的那只猫。
Tā shì zhuā de nà zhī māo.
He is the one who caught that cat.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
他什么都不怕，甚至连蛇都敢____。
He's not afraid of anything — he even dares to catch snakes.
Common Confusions with 抓
抓vs挤
jǐ
Both characters have a hand radical but differ in meaning.
抓 means to grab or catch, while 拿 means to hold or take.
1
他抓住了球。 (He caught the ball.) vs 他拿着球。 (He is holding the ball.)
抓 means to grab or catch, while 拿 means to hold or take.
💡抓 has a sense of seizing or catching something, while 拿 is more about holding.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "to grab"?
or
Usage Notes for 抓
Incorrectly using 抓 in non-physical contextsCommon Error
抓 is typically used in physical contexts, such as catching or grabbing. Avoid using it in abstract contexts where other verbs might be more appropriate.
1
他抓住了机会。 (Incorrect)
He grabbed the opportunity. (Should use 抓住 instead of 抓)
Exercise 1 of 1
Fill in the Blank
他____住了机会。 (Incorrect)
He grabbed the opportunity. (Should use 抓住 instead of 抓)
Soldiers took away four people one of whom was later released.
Cultural Notes for 抓
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of 'grabbing' is often associated with quickness and decisiveness, especially in competitive environments like markets or negotiations. The phrase 抓住机会 (zhuā zhù jī huì) means 'to seize an opportunity', reflecting a proactive mindset valued in society.
Word Family of 抓
Words Containing This Character20
抓zhuāto grab
抓住zhuāzhùto grab
抓紧zhuājǐnto grasp firmly抓緊
抓获to arrest抓獲
抓捕to seize
抓走to arrest
抓手starting point
一把抓to attempt all tasks at once
抓举snatch (weightlifting technique)抓舉
主抓to be in charge of
抓取to seize
抓拍to capture (an image)
抓阄to draw straws抓鬮
抓药to make up a prescription (of herbal medicine)抓藥
抓挠to scratch抓撓
抓耳挠腮to tweak one's ears and scratch one's cheeks (as an expression of anxiety, delight, frustration etc) (idiom)抓耳撓腮
抓饭pilau抓飯
抓瞎to be caught unprepared
抓痒to scratch an itch抓癢
眉毛胡子一把抓careless眉毛鬍子一把抓
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 抓 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 抓
Yes, 抓 (zhuā) is often used in idiomatic expressions in Chinese. For example, '抓耳挠腮' (zhuā ěr náo sāi) means 'to scratch one's ears and cheeks' and is used to describe someone who is anxious or worried.
In everyday conversation, you might hear phrases like '抓住' (zhuā zhù) meaning 'to catch' or '抓到' (zhuā dào) meaning 'to catch/arrive at'. These phrases can apply to catching a bus, grabbing a chance, or even catching a mistake.
To use 抓 (zhuā) in a sentence, you can say '我抓住了这个机会' (Wǒ zhuā zhùle zhège jīhuì), which means 'I seized this opportunity'. It's often used with objects or situations that can be grasped physically or metaphorically.
抓 (zhuā) means 'to grab' or 'to catch'. It can also imply actions like 'to arrest' or 'to snatch'. This versatile verb is commonly used in various contexts, from physical actions to idiomatic expressions.
抓 emphasizes the action of grabbing or seizing, often in a quick manner, while 拿 simply means 'to take' without the same urgency.
While 抓 is more frequently used in informal contexts, it can be used in formal situations when referring to the act of arrest or capturing, but it's advisable to choose more formal synonyms in legal contexts.
You can associate zhuā with 'grab' by picturing the sound as a quick action, similar to the swift motion of grabbing something.
