Chinese Character: 爪 (zhuǎ/zhǎo - Claw/Paw)
1. Character Basics (汉字基本信息)
Radical: 爪 (The character itself serves as the radical)
Stroke Count: 4 (Four strokes)
Character Structure: 象形字 (Pictographic character, depicting the shape of a claw)
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation (发音)
Pinyin: zhuǎ (for the meaning of small animal's claw), zhǎo (for more general or formal use like a beast's claw) (The pronunciation 'zhuǎ' is used for the claws of small animals, while 'zhǎo' is used more generally or formally, such as for the claws of beasts.)
3. Meaning (含义)
爪 mainly means the claw or paw of an animal. When pronounced as 'zhuǎ', it often refers to the small claws of pets or small animals; when pronounced as 'zhǎo', it can refer to the claws of larger beasts. (The character '爪' primarily represents the claw or paw of an animal. The pronunciation 'zhuǎ' is commonly used for the small claws of pets or small animals, while 'zhǎo' is used for the claws of larger beasts.)
4. Common Words (常用词汇)
- 爪子 (zhuǎ zi) - Claw (informal, for small animals)
- 鹰爪 (yīng zhǎo) - Eagle's claw
- 魔爪 (mó zhǎo) - Evil claws (metaphorically for evil power)
5. Grammar & Usage (语法与用法)
爪 is usually used as a noun. It can be combined with other words to form compound nouns related to animals or used metaphorically in some expressions. (The character '爪' is typically used as a noun. It can be combined with other words to form compound nouns related to animals or used metaphorically in certain expressions.)
6. Cultural Background (文化背景)
In Chinese culture, claws are often associated with the power and ferocity of animals. In some traditional art forms and legends, the image of animals with sharp claws is used to represent strength and courage. (In Chinese culture, claws are frequently associated with the power and ferocity of animals. In certain traditional art forms and legends, the image of animals with sharp claws is employed to symbolize strength and courage.)
7. Example Sentence (例句)
小猫伸出了它的爪子。 (Xiǎo māo shēn chū le tā de zhuǎ zi.) - The little cat stretched out its claws.
老鹰用它锋利的鹰爪抓住了猎物。 (Lǎo yīng yòng tā fēng lì de yīng zhǎo zhuā zhù le liè wù.) - The eagle caught its prey with its sharp claws.
8. Memory Tips (记忆技巧)
You can remember the character '爪' by imagining the shape of an animal's claw. The three strokes at the top represent the toes, and the bottom stroke represents the palm part. (你可以通过想象动物爪子的形状来记住“爪”这个字。上面的三笔代表爪子的趾头，下面一笔代表掌部。)