Learn a Chinese Character - 搞

1. Character Basics

Radical: 扌 (shǒu, hand)

Stroke Count: 13

Structure: Left-right structure. The left part is "扌" (hand), indicating it's related to actions done by hand, and the right part is "高" (high), which is a phonetic component.

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: Gǎo

Tone: Third tone (falling-rising)

3. Meaning

Core Meaning: To perform an action; to engage in an activity; to handle or manage something.

Main Definitions:

• To do; to perform; to carry out
• To make; to create; to produce
• To handle; to manage; to deal with
• To搞 (colloquial: to get; to obtain)

4. Common Words

• 搞定 (gǎo dìng) - To fix; to get done; to sort out

  我已经搞定了这个问题。(I have already fixed this problem.)

• 搞笑 (gǎo xiào) - To be funny; to make people laugh

  他很搞笑，总是让我们笑个不停。(He is very funny, always making us laugh non-stop.)

• 搞清楚 (gǎo qīng chu) - To make clear; to figure out

  我们需要先把情况搞清楚。(We need to figure out the situation first.)

• 搞事情 (gǎo shì qing) - To stir up trouble; to create a problem

  别在这里搞事情！(Don't stir up trouble here!)

• 搞卫生 (gǎo wèi shēng) - To do cleaning; to tidy up

  周末我要在家搞卫生。(I will do cleaning at home on the weekend.)

5. Grammar & Usage

Part of Speech: Mainly used as a verb.

Usage Patterns:

• As a transitive verb: Usually followed by an object (搞 + object)

  搞研究 (gǎo yán jiū) - To do research

• In colloquial language: Often used in informal contexts to describe various actions

  搞不懂 (gǎo bù dǒng) - To not understand

• With complement: Can be followed by complements to indicate result or manner

  搞明白 (gǎo míng bai) - To understand clearly

Common Collocations:

• 搞活动 (gǎo huó dòng) - To organize activities
• 搞工作 (gǎo gōng zuò) - To do work
• 搞关系 (gǎo guān xi) - To build relationships (sometimes with a negative connotation)

6. Cultural Background

In Chinese culture and daily communication, the character "搞" has special significance:

• Colloquial Usage: "搞" is widely used in spoken Chinese and has a versatile and flexible nature, making it a common and useful character in daily conversations.
• Informal Tone: While "搞" can be used in various contexts, it often carries a slightly informal tone, so it's more commonly used in casual conversations rather than very formal writing.
• Expressive Power: The character can express a wide range of actions and intentions, from solving problems to creating situations, reflecting the richness of Chinese expression.
• Modern Usage: In contemporary Chinese, "搞" is often used in new phrases and expressions, showing its adaptability to modern language development.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

Here are some ways to remember the character "搞":

• Component Breakdown: The character consists of "扌" (hand) on the left and "高" (high) on the right. Remember that "扌" indicates it's related to actions done by hand, and "高" helps with pronunciation.
• Visual Association: Imagine using your hand (扌) to reach high (高) places to accomplish or do (搞) something.
• Word Family: Associate with common words like "搞定" (gǎo dìng - to fix), "搞笑" (gǎo xiào - to be funny), and "搞清楚" (gǎo qīng chu - to make clear) to reinforce the meaning.
• Mnemonic Device: "搞是手加高，做事离不了" (Gǎo shì shǒu jiā gāo, zuò shì lí bù liǎo) - "搞 is hand plus high, it's indispensable for doing things."