抱 meaning and stroke order
To hold; to carry (in one's arms); to hug
How to write 抱, 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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- 3
- 4
- 5
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- 8
Meaning of 抱
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to hold
- to carry (in one's arms)
- to hug
- to embrace
- to surround
- to cherish
How 抱 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. To wrap 包 in one's arms 扌; 包 also provides the pronunciation.
Radical: 扌 (hand), shared by 342 characters on this site.
How to remember 抱
The hand radical 扌 sits next to 包 (bāo), which means to wrap. When you hug someone, your hands wrap around them, and 包 also gives the sound bào.
抱 is used for holding something or someone in your arms, like a baby or a box, and for hugging. It also appears in abstract words such as 抱歉 (bàoqiàn, to be sorry) and 抱怨 (bàoyuàn, to complain). Example: 妈妈抱着孩子。(Māma bào zhe háizi.) Mom is holding the child in her arms.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 抱 with 包 (bāo, to wrap) or 饱 (bǎo, full after eating), which share the same sound component. Remember that 抱 has the hand radical and a fourth tone, bào.
Common words with 抱
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 抱怨 | bàoyuàn | to complain; to grumble | HSK 5 |
| 拥抱 | yōngbào | to embrace; to hug | HSK 5 |
| 抱歉 | bàoqiàn | to be sorry; to feel apologetic | HSK 6 |
| 怀抱 | huáibào | to hug; to cherish | HSK 7-9 |
| 抱负 | bàofù | aspiration; ambition | HSK 7-9 |
| 抱抱 | bàobào | to hug; to give a cuddle | |
| 抱头 | bàotóu | to put one's hands behind one's head, fingers interlaced; to hold one's head in one's hand | |
| 投怀送抱 | tóuhuáisòngbào | to throw oneself in sb's arms; to throw oneself at sb |
抱 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 抱
How many strokes are in 抱?
抱 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 抱 mean?
抱 (bào) means to hold; to carry (in one's arms); to hug. A common word with it is 抱怨 (bàoyuàn), meaning "to complain; to grumble".
How do you pronounce 抱?
抱 is pronounced bào, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 抱?
The radical of 抱 is 扌, which carries the idea of "hand". Dictionaries list 抱 under this radical.
Is 抱 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 抱 is part of the HSK 4 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 抱 and 拥抱?
拥抱 (yōngbào) specifically means to embrace or hug a person. 抱 alone is broader and can mean carrying an object in your arms, like 抱一箱书 (bào yì xiāng shū, carry a box of books).
Why does 抱歉 mean sorry if 抱 means to hold?
In 抱歉, 抱 carries its sense of holding a feeling inside, and 歉 means regret. So 抱歉 is like holding regret, which is a polite way to say you feel sorry, as in 很抱歉 (hěn bàoqiàn, I am very sorry).