Chinese Character: 揪
1. Character Basics
Radical: 扌 (shǒu)
Stroke Count: 12
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: jiū (1st tone)
3. Meaning
seize, pull, grab, clutch
4. Common Words
- 揪住 (jiū zhù) - seize, grab hold of
- 揪心 (jiū xīn) - anxiety-provoking, distressing
- 揪出 (jiū chū) - ferret out, expose
- 揪打 (jiū dǎ) - grab and hit, tussle
- 揪耳朵 (jiū ěr duo) - pull someone's ear
- 揪头发 (jiū tóu fà) - pull someone's hair
5. Grammar & Usage
Part of Speech: Verb
Usage Patterns:
- As a transitive verb: 揪住小偷 (jiū zhù xiǎo tōu) - seize the thief
- With complements: 揪起来 (jiū qǐ lái) - pick up by grabbing
- In idiomatic expressions: 揪住不放 (jiū zhù bù fàng) - cling to, not let go
- In figurative sense: 揪心的事 (jiū xīn de shì) - distressing matter
Collocations:
- 与人身体部位搭配：揪衣领 (jiū yī lǐng) - grab by the collar
- 与贬义对象搭配：揪出腐败分子 (jiū chū fǔ bài fèn zǐ) - ferret out corrupt elements
- 与抽象概念搭配：揪问题 (jiū wèn tí) - identify problems
6. Cultural Background
The character "揪" is often used in Chinese to describe physical actions of grabbing or pulling, but it also has cultural significance in various contexts.
In traditional Chinese culture, physical gestures like "揪耳朵" (pulling someone's ear) were sometimes used as a form of mild punishment or admonishment, especially between parents and children or teachers and students.
In modern Chinese society, "揪" is frequently used in expressions related to law enforcement and anti-corruption efforts, such as "揪出贪官" (exposing corrupt officials).
The character also appears in many idioms and colloquial expressions, reflecting its importance in everyday language. For example, "揪住细节" (paying attention to details) is a common phrase in work and study contexts.
7. Example Sentence
Chinese: 妈妈揪住小明的耳朵，让他认真听老师讲课。
Pinyin: Mā ma jiū zhù xiǎo míng de ěr duo, ràng tā rèn zhēn tīng lǎo shī jiǎng kè.
Translation: Mom pulled Xiao Ming's ear, telling him to listen carefully to the teacher's lesson.
8. Memory Tips
The character "揪" is composed of "扌" (shǒu), the hand radical, and "秋" (qiū), meaning "autumn."
A helpful mnemonic: Imagine using your hand (扌) to grab or pull something in autumn (秋). Perhaps you're grabbing falling leaves or pulling a child who's wandering away.
Another way to remember: The sound of "秋" (qiū) is similar to "揪" (jiū), which can help you recall the pronunciation. The hand radical clearly indicates that this character is related to an action performed with the hand.