抓 meaning and stroke order
To grab; to catch; to arrest
How to write 抓, stroke by stroke
7 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 抓
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to grab
- to catch
- to arrest
- to snatch
- to scratch
How 抓 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A hand 扌 with claws 爪; 爪 also provides the pronunciation.
Radical: 扌 (hand), shared by 342 characters on this site.
How to remember 抓
A hand 扌 next to claws 爪 (zhǎo): picture a hand curling its fingers like claws to grab something. The 爪 part also hints at the sound, zhuā.
抓 (zhuā) is used for physically grabbing or catching things, for police arresting someone, and for scratching. It also appears in set phrases like 抓紧时间 (zhuājǐn shíjiān), meaning to hurry and not waste time. Example: 警察抓住了小偷。(Jǐngchá zhuāzhù le xiǎotōu.) The police caught the thief.
Common mistake: Learners often forget the hand radical and write just 爪 (zhǎo, claw), which is a different character with a different tone. Also, 爪 can be read zhuǎ in casual words like 爪子 (zhuǎzi, paw), so do not mix up these readings with 抓 (zhuā).
Common words with 抓
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 抓住 | zhuāzhù | to grab hold of; to capture | HSK 3 |
| 抓紧 | zhuājǐn | to keep a firm grip on; to pay close attention to | HSK 4 |
| 抓走 | zhuāzǒu | to arrest | |
| 抓狂 | zhuākuáng | (coll.) to be driven crazy (with frustration, stress, anger etc); to tear one's hair out; | |
| 抓紧时间 | zhuājǐnshíjiān | to waste no time in (doing sth); to hurry up | |
| 抓捕 | zhuābǔ | to seize; to capture | |
| 抓获 | zhuāhuò | to arrest | |
| 抓伤 | zhuāshāng | to injure by scratching or clawing | |
| 抓贼 | zhuāzéi | to catch a thief |
抓 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 抓
How many strokes are in 抓?
抓 is written with 7 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 抓 mean?
抓 (zhuā) means to grab; to catch; to arrest. A common word with it is 抓住 (zhuāzhù), meaning "to grab hold of; to capture".
How do you pronounce 抓?
抓 is pronounced zhuā, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 抓?
The radical of 抓 is 扌, which carries the idea of "hand". Dictionaries list 抓 under this radical.
Is 抓 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 抓 is part of the HSK 3 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 抓 and 拿?
拿 (ná) is a neutral word for holding or taking something. 抓 (zhuā) suggests a quick, firm grab, often with the fingers closing tightly, or catching something that might get away.
What does 抓狂 mean in everyday speech?
抓狂 (zhuākuáng) is a colloquial way to say you are going crazy from stress or frustration. For example, 这个作业让我抓狂 (Zhège zuòyè ràng wǒ zhuākuáng) means this homework is driving me crazy.