取 meaning and stroke order
To take; to get; to choose
How to write 取, stroke by stroke
8 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
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Meaning of 取
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to take
- to get
- to choose
- to fetch
How 取 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A hand 又 taking the ear 耳 of a fallen enemy.
Radical: 又 (and), shared by 21 characters on this site.
How to remember 取
On the left is an ear 耳 (ěr) and on the right is a hand 又 (yòu). The hand is taking the ear of a fallen enemy, so 取 (qǔ) means to take or obtain.
取 (qǔ) means to take, fetch, or get, and it appears in many common verbs like 取得 (qǔdé, to obtain), 取消 (qǔxiāo, to cancel), and 争取 (zhēngqǔ, to strive for). On its own it is often used for picking something up or collecting it. Example: 我去银行取钱。(Wǒ qù yínháng qǔ qián.) I am going to the bank to withdraw money.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 取 (qǔ, to take) with 娶 (qǔ, to marry a wife), which has the same sound and adds 女 underneath. Also watch the tone: 取 is third tone, not fourth tone like 去 (qù, to go).
Common words with 取
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 取得 | qǔdé | to acquire; to get; to obtain | HSK 2 |
| 取消 | qǔxiāo | to cancel; to call off; to revoke; to rescind | HSK 3 |
| 采取 | cǎiqǔ | to adopt or carry out (measures, policies, course of action); to take | HSK 3 |
| 争取 | zhēngqǔ | to fight for; to strive for | HSK 3 |
| 获取 | huòqǔ | to gain; to get; to acquire | HSK 4 |
| 录取 | lùqǔ | to accept an applicant (prospective student, employee etc) who passes an entrance exam; to | HSK 4 |
| 夺取 | duóqǔ | to seize; to capture | HSK 6 |
| 听取 | tīngqǔ | to hear (news); to listen to | HSK 6 |
| 收取 | shōuqǔ | to receive; to collect | HSK 6 |
| 领取 | lǐngqǔ | to receive; to draw; to get | HSK 6 |
| 取款机 | qǔkuǎnjī | ATM | HSK 6 |
| 取款 | qǔkuǎn | to withdraw money from a bank | HSK 6 |
| 取决于 | qǔjué yú | to hinge on; to be decided by | HSK 7-9 |
| 取代 | qǔdài | to replace; to supersede | HSK 7-9 |
取 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 取
Learning 取 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 取
How many strokes are in 取?
取 is written with 8 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 取 mean?
取 (qǔ) means to take; to get; to choose. A common word with it is 取得 (qǔdé), meaning "to acquire; to get; to obtain".
How do you pronounce 取?
取 is pronounced qǔ, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 取?
The radical of 取 is 又, which carries the idea of "and". Dictionaries list 取 under this radical.
Is 取 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 取 is part of the HSK 2 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
What is the difference between 取 and 拿?
拿 (ná) is the everyday word for physically holding or picking something up. 取 (qǔ) is more formal and often means to collect or retrieve something stored somewhere, like 取钱 (qǔ qián, withdraw money) or 取快递 (qǔ kuàidì, pick up a package).
How do you say 'to give a name' with 取?
You can say 取名字 (qǔ míngzi) or 取名 (qǔmíng), meaning to choose a name for someone. Here 取 carries its sense of selecting.