挪 meaning and stroke order
To shift; to move
How to write 挪, stroke by stroke
9 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 挪
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to shift
- to move
How 挪 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Hand.
扌 gives the meaning and 那 hints at the sound.
Radical: 扌 (hand), shared by 342 characters on this site.
How to remember 挪
The hand radical 扌 shows you are doing something by hand, and 那 (nà) gives the sound and suggests "over there." Picture your hand pushing something from here to over there: that is 挪 (nuó), to shift it.
挪 is used for moving something a short distance, like furniture, a car, or your seat, and also for shifting time or money. It is common in spoken Chinese with result words like 开 or 一下. Example: 请把椅子挪一下。(Qǐng bǎ yǐzi nuó yíxià.) Please move the chair a bit.
Common mistake: Learners often read 挪 as nà or nǎ because of the phonetic part 那, but it is pronounced nuó with a second tone. Also be careful with 挪用 (nuóyòng): it usually means diverting funds, often improperly, so it is not a neutral word for "use."
Common words with 挪
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 挪开 | nuókāi | to move (sth) aside; to step aside | |
| 挪用 | nuóyòng | to shift (funds); to (legitimately) take funds set aside for one purpose in order to use t |
挪 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 挪
How many strokes are in 挪?
挪 is written with 9 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 挪 mean?
挪 (nuó) means to shift; to move. A common word with it is 挪开 (nuókāi), meaning "to move (sth) aside; to step aside".
How do you pronounce 挪?
挪 is pronounced nuó, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 挪?
The radical of 挪 is 扌, which carries the idea of "hand". Dictionaries list 挪 under this radical.
Is 挪 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 挪 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 挪 and 搬 (bān)?
搬 usually means moving something heavy or moving house, often over a real distance. 挪 suggests shifting something a little, such as nudging a table aside or rescheduling a meeting.
Is 挪威 related to moving?
No. 挪威 (Nuówēi) means Norway, and here 挪 is only used for its sound. The meaning "to shift" has nothing to do with the country name.