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拔 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
拔báto pull upHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #2896, Hard
拔báto pull outHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #2896, Hard
拔báto draw out by suctionHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #2896, Hard
拔báto selectHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #2896, Hard
拔báto pickHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #2896, Hard
拔báto stand out (above level)HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #2896, Hard
拔báto surpassHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #2896, Hard
拔báto seizeHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #2896, Hard
拔báto uproot, to pull out; to select, to promoteHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #2896, Hard
bá(ba2) T2
  1. 1to pull up
  2. 2to pull out
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
拔bá(ba2)

The verb 拔 (bá) primarily means 'to pull up' or 'to pull out.' It can be used in various contexts, such as removing a plant from the ground or drawing something out, like a tooth. Additionally, it conveys the idea of surpassing or standing out among others, making it versatile in both literal and figurative uses.

Strokes8Radical扌Frequency#2896DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

拔 is commonly associated with traditional Chinese medicine, particularly in the context of tooth extraction. The practice of拔牙 (pulling teeth) is a significant aspect of dental care in Chinese culture and often comes with specific rituals and beliefs.

Memory Tip

Imagine a strong person pulling a stubborn weed out of the ground. The character 拔 looks like a person (the top part) pulling something (the bottom part) out of the earth. Think of the 'b' in '拔' as the 'brawn' needed to pull things out.

Meanings of 拔

bá(ba2)
1to pull up
2to pull out
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 拔

拔Simplified
8Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2896Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRB2

Podcast: 拔

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Podcast: 拔

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AI Study Notes for 拔

Quick Contrast

拔 (bá) vs 拔出 (bá chū) — use 拔 for the act of pulling out without specifying the result, while 拔出 emphasizes the completion of the action.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a strong person pulling a stubborn weed out of the ground. The character 拔 looks like a person (the top part) pulling something (the bottom part) out of the earth. Think of the 'b' in '拔' as the 'brawn' needed to pull things out.

Usage Notes

Be cautious of using 拔 in the wrong context, as it can imply a forceful action. It's often used in both formal and informal settings, but be careful with collocations like 拔牙 (pull a tooth) or 拔苗助长 (to pull seedlings to help them grow), as misuse can lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

While 拔 is not included in the HSK vocabulary list, it connects well with other action verbs. Students should focus on its usage in various contexts and its collocations to enhance their vocabulary and understanding of action verbs in Mandarin.

Cultural Note

拔 is commonly associated with traditional Chinese medicine, particularly in the context of tooth extraction. The practice of拔牙 (pulling teeth) is a significant aspect of dental care in Chinese culture and often comes with specific rituals and beliefs.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is to confuse 拔 with other similar-sounding characters. For example, learners might mistakenly use 罢 (bà) instead of 拔 (bá), which alters the meaning entirely. Remember: 拔 is about pulling out, while 罢 means to stop or cease.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 拔

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Etymology of 拔

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

hand

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 拔?

Decomposition of 拔

IDS Structure⿰扌犮
拔Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
犮ba2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 拔?

Write 拔

拔

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

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Grammar Patterns of 拔

拔 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 9 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.

Related grammar lessons3
Exercise 1 of 3

Complete the Sentence

他不仅工作认真，而且待人热情，然而，这样优秀的人才却一直没有得到提____。

Not only is he diligent at work, but he is also warm to people; however, such an excellent talent has never been promoted.

Example Sentences for 拔 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
你倒是来者不拒，照单全收，可你自己实际上却一毛不拔。

nǐ dǎo shì lái zhě bù jù， ， zhào dān quán， shōu ， kě nǐ zì jǐ shí jì shàng què yī máo。

You'll take everything you're offered yet your own generosity is virtually non-existent.
2
比赛开始的时候形势大好，斯皮德以一记精彩的进球先拔头筹。

bǐ sài kāi shǐ de shí hòu xíng shì dà hǎo， ， sī pí dé yǐ yī jì jīng cǎi de jìn qiú xiān bá tóu。

It all started so promisingly when Speed scored a tremendous first goal.
3
孩子们必须参加一次严格的选拔测试。

hái zǐ mén bì xū cān jiā yī cì yán gé de xuǎn bá cè shì。

The children have to sit a tough selection test.
4
我把通到他办公室的电话线拔掉了。

wǒ bǎ tōng dào tā bàn gōng shì de diàn huà xiàn bá diào le。

I ripped out the telephone wire that ran through to his office.
5
他是个十分细心的经理，出类拔萃的经理。

tā shì gè shí fēn xì xīn de jīng lǐ， ， chū lèi bá cuì de jīng。

He has been a meticulous manager, a manager par excellence.
6
我牙龈脓肿，所以他就把那颗牙拔掉了。

wǒ yá yín nóng zhǒng， ， suǒ yǐ tā jiù bǎ nà kē yá bá diào。

I got an abscess so he took the tooth out.
7
那时候，牙科学刚起步，拔牙都不打麻药。

nà shí hòu， ， yá kē xué gāng qǐ， bù ， bá yá dū bù dǎ。

In those days, dentistry was basic. Extractions were carried out without anaesthetic.
8
上学时他不属于拔尖的那类。

shàng xué shí tā bù shǔ yú bá jiān de nà lèi。

In school, he was not one of the achievers.
9
牙医可能会决定拔掉那颗牙，以免反复发作。

yá yī kě néng huì jué dìng bá diào nà kē yá， ， yǐ miǎn fǎn fù fā。

A dentist may decide to extract the tooth to prevent recurrent trouble.
10
我每次谈恋爱都深陷其中，无法自拔。

wǒ měi cì tán liàn ài dū shēn xiàn qí zhōng， ， wú fǎ zì。

Whenever I get into a relationship, I always fall madly in love.

Cultural Notes for 拔

🏮Cultural insight

拔 is commonly associated with traditional Chinese medicine, particularly in the context of tooth extraction. The practice of拔牙 (pulling teeth) is a significant aspect of dental care in Chinese culture and often comes with specific rituals and beliefs.

Word Family of 拔

Compounds1
菝ba2Smilax china
Words Containing This Character20
拔báto pull up
选拔xuǎnbáto select the best選拔
海拔hǎibáelevation
提拔tíbáto promote to a higher job
拔掉to pluck
自拔to free oneself
出类拔萃preeminent出類拔萃
挺拔tǐngbátall and straight
拔除to pull out
拔河tug-of-war
剑拔弩张at daggers drawn劍拔弩張
拔牙to extract a tooth
坚韧不拔firm and indomitable (idiom); tenacious and unyielding堅韌不拔
拔高to overrate
拔尖top-notch (colloquial)
拔腿to break into a run
开拔departure開拔
连根拔to uproot連根拔
拔罐cupping glass
坚忍不拔fortitude堅忍不拔
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 菝 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 拔

You can use it like this: 我拔了草 (Wǒ bá le cǎo) means 'I pulled up the weeds.'