Learn a Chinese Character - 拐

1. Character Basics

Radical: 扌/shǒu (hand), 另/lìng (another)

Stroke Count: 8

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: Guǎi (Third tone)

3. Meaning

Basic Meaning: To turn; to拐弯 (guǎi wān); to abduct; to拐骗 (guǎi piàn)

Extended Meaning: To拐带 (guǎi dài); to拐跑 (guǎi pǎo); to拐走 (guǎi zǒu); to拐骗儿童 (abduct children); to拐弯抹角 (to beat around the bush)

4. Common Words

• 拐弯 (guǎi wān) - to turn a corner

  请在第三个路口拐弯。 (Please turn at the third intersection.)

• 拐杖 (guǎi zhàng) - walking stick; crutch

  这位老人拄着拐杖走路。 (The old man walks with a crutch.)

• 拐卖 (guǎi mài) - to abduct and sell

  拐卖儿童是严重的犯罪行为。 (Child abduction and trafficking is a serious crime.)

• 拐骗 (guǎi piàn) - to abduct; to swindle

  不要被陌生人拐骗。 (Don't be swindled by strangers.)

• 拐棍 (guǎi gùn) - walking stick

  爷爷的拐棍是用竹子做的。 (Grandpa's walking stick is made of bamboo.)

5. Grammar & Usage

As a Verb:

• 拐+Direction: 拐左/右 (turn left/right)
• 拐+Location: 拐弯处 (turning point)
• 拐+People/Things: 拐孩子 (abduct a child), 拐钱 (swindle money)

Common Structures:

• 拐来拐去 (to twist and turn) - 这条路拐来拐去的，很难走。 (This road twists and turns, it's very difficult to walk.)
• 拐弯抹角 (to speak indirectly) - 有话直说，不要拐弯抹角。 (Speak directly, don't beat around the bush.)

6. Cultural Background

In Chinese culture, the character 拐 is often associated with the idiom 拐弯抹角 (guǎi wān mò jiǎo), which literally means "to turn corners and抹 angles". This idiom is used to describe someone who speaks indirectly or beats around the bush instead of getting straight to the point.

Interestingly, this concept of indirectness is also reflected in traditional Chinese architecture, where structures like 影壁 (yǐng bì) (screen walls) and 月亮门 (yuè liang mén) (moon gates) are often used to create a sense of mystery and gradual revelation, rather than direct access.

On a more serious note, China has strict laws against human trafficking, and the characters 拐卖 (guǎi mài) and 拐骗 (guǎi piàn) are frequently used in discussions about this important social issue.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

1. Decomposition Method:

拐 is composed of 扌 (shǒu) meaning "hand" and 另 (lìng) meaning "another". Together, they suggest using a hand to guide to another direction, which is the essence of "to turn".

2. Association Method:

Imagine someone using their hand (扌) to point to another direction (另) - that's the action of turning or changing direction.

3. Word Group Method:

Remember the character by learning related words:

• 拐弯 (guǎi wān) - to turn a corner
• 拐杖 (guǎi zhàng) - walking stick
• 拐卖 (guǎi mài) - to abduct and sell

4. Image Method:

Picture an old person with a walking stick (拐杖) turning around a corner - this visual image can help you remember both the character and its meaning.