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March 24, 2026
拿(㧱)ná(na2)
The character 拿 (ná) means 'to take' or 'to grasp'. It is commonly used in contexts where one is holding, seizing, or bringing something. This verb is also used in structures similar to 把 (bǎ), indicating an action performed on a direct object.
Strokes10Radical手Frequency#133DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of 'taking' or 'grasping' can symbolize seizing opportunities, reflecting the mindset that one must act decisively in various aspects of life, from business to personal relationships.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person 'na' (sounds like 'nah') who is determined to 'take' a large, heavy bag. The character 拿 visually resembles a hand (the left side) grasping something (the right side), reinforcing the action of holding or taking.
Meanings of 拿
ná(na2)
1to bring, to grasp, to hold, to take
2to seize
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 拿
拿Simplified
㧱Traditional
10Strokes
手Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#133Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L2ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 拿
Podcast: 拿
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AI Study Notes for 拿
Quick Contrast
拿 (ná) vs 取 (qǔ): Use 拿 when emphasizing the act of holding or grasping something, while 取 focuses more on the act of obtaining or fetching.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person 'na' (sounds like 'nah') who is determined to 'take' a large, heavy bag. The character 拿 visually resembles a hand (the left side) grasping something (the right side), reinforcing the action of holding or taking.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 拿 with other similar verbs like 取 (qǔ) which means 'to fetch'. It is more commonly used in informal contexts, so while it can be used in daily conversations, it may not be appropriate in very formal writing. Remember to practice its use with a direct object following it, especially in the 把 construction.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 3 word, 拿 relates to other action verbs at this level like 走 (zǒu, to walk) and 听 (tīng, to listen). Students should focus on its application in sentences and practice using it with various objects to develop fluency.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of 'taking' or 'grasping' can symbolize seizing opportunities, reflecting the mindset that one must act decisively in various aspects of life, from business to personal relationships.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 拿 instead of 取 (qǔ) when referring to fetching something from a distance, like '我去拿水' (Wǒ qù ná shuǐ) instead of '我去取水' (Wǒ qù qǔ shuǐ). Remember that 拿 emphasizes holding or seizing directly.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 拿
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Grammar Patterns of 拿
拿 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 7 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.
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Cultural Notes for 拿
💡Did you know?
The character 拿 (ná) is related to the action of using one's hands. In Chinese culture, hands are often symbolic of action and capability. This character reflects the importance of direct action in communication.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the act of 'taking' or 'grasping' can symbolize seizing opportunities, reflecting the mindset that one must act decisively in various aspects of life, from business to personal relationships.
Word Family of 拿
Compounds3
镎na2neptunium
嗱
鎿
Words Containing This Character20
拿náto hold
拿出náchūto take out
加拿大Canada
拿走názǒuto take away
拿起to pick up
拿来to bring拿來
拿手náshǒuexpert in
拿破仑Napoleon (name)拿破崙
拿下to arrest
巴拿马Panama巴拿馬
桑拿sāngnásauna (loanword)
推拿tui na (form of Chinese manual therapy)
缉拿to arrest緝拿
捉拿to arrest
拿人making things awkward
蒙大拿Montana, US state
拿大to put on airs
捉拿归案to bring to justice捉拿歸案
十拿九稳to be a cinch十拿九穩
蒙大拿州Montana, US state
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 镎 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 拿
拿 (ná) is a verb meaning 'to take,' while 把 (bǎ) is a particle used to indicate that the object is affected by the action. They can be used together in sentences to convey the action of taking an object while emphasizing the object itself.
To use 拿 (ná) in a sentence, you can follow the structure similar to that of 把 (bǎ). For example, in the sentence '我拿书' (Wǒ ná shū), it means 'I take the book.' This shows the action of taking and indicates the object directly.
拿 (ná) means 'to take' or 'to seize' in Chinese. It can also imply catching or apprehending something. In some contexts, it is used similarly to the particle 把 (bǎ), which marks the following noun as a direct object.
You can use it like this: '我拿书' (Wǒ ná shū) meaning 'I take the book'.
No, 拿 is generally used in informal contexts. For formal writing, other verbs may be more appropriate.
Yes, 拿 can be used with most nouns, but it is important to ensure the noun makes sense in the context of taking or grasping.
