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March 24, 2026
夺(奪)duó(duo2)
The character 夺 (duó) means 'to seize' or 'to take away forcibly.' It is commonly used in contexts involving competition or conflict, such as taking control of something or vying for a position. The nuance suggests a forceful action, emphasizing the struggle involved in the act of taking.
Strokes6Radical大Frequency#1980DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 夺 can relate to historical events such as the struggles for power during various dynasties, highlighting the significance of control and authority in society and governance.
Memory Tip
Imagine a fierce duel where one warrior must 夺 (duó) the sword from his opponent. The character's left side resembles a hand reaching out, symbolizing 'seizing' or 'taking,' while the right side can remind you of the struggle implied in the action.
Meanings of 夺
duó(duo2)
1to seize
2to take away forcibly
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 夺
夺Simplified
奪Traditional
6Strokes
大Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#1980Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 夺
Podcast: 夺
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AI Study Notes for 夺
Quick Contrast
夺 (duó) vs 取 (qǔ): use 夺 when emphasizing forceful seizure, while 取 is for general taking without the implication of struggle.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a fierce duel where one warrior must 夺 (duó) the sword from his opponent. The character's left side resembles a hand reaching out, symbolizing 'seizing' or 'taking,' while the right side can remind you of the struggle implied in the action.
Usage Notes
This verb is often used in both formal and informal contexts but tends to carry a negative connotation when referring to taking something from someone else. Common collocations include 夺权 (duó quán - to seize power) or 夺回 (duó huí - to reclaim). Be careful with the tones; mispronouncing it can lead to confusion.
HSK Study Tips
While 夺 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it can be connected to other HSK words that deal with competition or conflict, such as 争 (zhēng - to compete) and 赢 (yíng - to win). Focus on understanding the contexts where seizing or competing is involved.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 夺 can relate to historical events such as the struggles for power during various dynasties, highlighting the significance of control and authority in society and governance.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 夺 with 夺取 (duó qǔ), assuming they are interchangeable, but 夺 is broader and can imply simply taking, while 夺取 implies a more violent or forceful taking. Correct usage would be: '他夺了话语权' (Tā duó le huàyǔquán - He seized the right to speak).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 夺
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Grammar Patterns of 夺
夺 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 8 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
军官们打算重新____回该市的防御区。
Officers were going to retake sectors of the city.
Rodgers can also claim four victories in the New York Marathon.
Cultural Notes for 夺
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of 夺 can relate to historical events such as the struggles for power during various dynasties, highlighting the significance of control and authority in society and governance.
Word Family of 夺
Words Containing This Character20
夺duóto seize奪
争夺zhēngduóto fight over爭奪
夺得to wrest奪得
夺冠duóguànto seize the crown奪冠
剥夺bōduóto deprive剝奪
夺取duóqǔto seize奪取
掠夺lüèduóto plunder掠奪
抢夺qiǎngduóto plunder搶奪
夺回to recapture奪回
夺目to dazzle the eyes奪目
争夺战struggle爭奪戰
夺权to seize power奪權
定夺to determine定奪
夺走to snatch away奪走
光彩夺目dazzling光彩奪目
争分夺秒zhēngfēnduómiǎomaking every second count爭分奪秒
篡夺to usurp篡奪
夺魁duókuíto seize奪魁
强词夺理sophistry強詞奪理
先声夺人to gain the upper hand by a show of strength先聲奪人
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 夺 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 夺
You can say '他夺走了我的玩具' (Tā duó zǒu le wǒ de wánjù) which means 'He took away my toy.'
While it often carries a negative connotation, it can be used in neutral contexts when discussing competition, such as in sports.
Generally, 夺 implies force or struggle, so it's less likely to be used positively, but it could be used in contexts of achieving something through great effort.
