拐 meaning and stroke order
To turn (a corner etc); to kidnap; to swindle
How to write 拐, 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.
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Meaning of 拐
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- cane
- walking stick
- crutch
- old man's staff
- to turn (a corner etc)
- to kidnap
How 拐 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. To take another 另 by force 扌.
Radical: 扌 (hand), shared by 342 characters on this site.
How to remember 拐
拐 is a hand 扌 grabbing another 另 (lìng) person and leading them away, which is why it means to kidnap. Picture the kidnapper making quick turns around corners to escape, and you also get the sense "to turn."
In daily life 拐 most often means to turn while walking or driving, as in 拐弯 (guǎiwān) and 往左拐 (wǎng zuǒ guǎi). It also appears in 拐杖 (guǎizhàng), a walking stick, and in words about abduction like 诱拐 (yòuguǎi). Example: 到路口往右拐。(Dào lùkǒu wǎng yòu guǎi.) Turn right at the intersection.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse the right side 另 with 别 (bié) or 加 (jiā). In 拐 the right side is 另: a 口 on top and 力 below, with no 刂. Also keep the third tone guǎi, not guài as in 怪 (guài, strange).
Common words with 拐
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 拐杖 | guǎizhàng | crutches; crutch | HSK 7-9 |
| 拐弯 | guǎiwān | to go round a curve; to turn a corner | HSK 7-9 |
| 拐角 | guǎijiǎo | to turn a corner; corner | |
| 诱拐 | yòuguǎi | to abduct; to kidnap | |
| 拐角处 | guǎijiǎochù | street corner | |
| 拐弯抹角 | guǎiwānmòjiǎo | lit. going round the curves and skirting the corners (idiom); fig. to speak in a roundabou |
拐 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 拐
How many strokes are in 拐?
拐 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 拐 mean?
拐 (guǎi) means to turn (a corner etc); to kidnap; to swindle. A common word with it is 拐杖 (guǎizhàng), meaning "crutches; crutch".
How do you pronounce 拐?
拐 is pronounced guǎi, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 拐?
The radical of 拐 is 扌, which carries the idea of "hand". Dictionaries list 拐 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 拐?
The traditional form of 拐 is 枴 and 柺. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 拐 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 拐 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 拐 is part of the HSK 6 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 拐 and 转 for turning?
转 (zhuǎn) is the general, slightly more formal word for turning or rotating. 拐 is very colloquial and is used for changing direction at a corner, especially in giving directions. Both 往左拐 and 往左转 are fine for directions.
What does 拐弯抹角 mean?
It literally means going round curves and skirting corners. It describes speaking in a roundabout way instead of getting to the point. For example, 别拐弯抹角了 (bié guǎiwānmòjiǎo le) means "stop beating around the bush."