捱 meaning and stroke order
To put off, to procrastinate; to endure
How to write 捱, stroke by stroke
11 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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- 11
Meaning of 捱
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- variant of 挨[ai2]
How 捱 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Hand.
扌 gives the meaning and 厓 hints at the sound.
Radical: 扌 (hand), shared by 342 characters on this site.
How to remember 捱
The hand radical 扌 sits beside 厓 (yá, cliff), which gives the sound. Picture a hand gripping the edge of a cliff, holding on and enduring until help comes.
捱 (ái) is a variant of 挨 (ái) in the sense of enduring hardship or dragging out time. It appears mostly in Cantonese-influenced or older writing, while mainland standard Chinese usually writes 挨. Example: 捱过了冬天 (ái guò le dōngtiān), made it through the winter.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 捱 with 涯 (yá, shore or limit), which shares the 厓 part but uses the water radical and a different sound. Also remember that 捱 is read ái in second tone, not āi like 挨 in the sense of next to.
Questions about 捱
How many strokes are in 捱?
捱 is written with 11 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 捱 mean?
捱 (ái) means to put off, to procrastinate; to endure.
How do you pronounce 捱?
捱 is pronounced ái, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 捱?
The radical of 捱 is 扌, which carries the idea of "hand". Dictionaries list 捱 under this radical.
Should I write 捱 or 挨 when I mean to endure something?
In mainland simplified Chinese, 挨 is the standard choice, as in 挨饿 (ái è, to go hungry). You will see 捱 more often in Hong Kong texts and in older or regional writing, so it is good to recognize it.
Can 捱 mean to procrastinate or stall for time?
Yes. Besides enduring, it can mean dragging something out, as in 捱时间 (ái shíjiān, to stall for time). The idea of hanging on and delaying links both senses.