掳 meaning and stroke order
To capture, to seize
How to write 掳, 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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Meaning of 掳
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- (bound form) to capture (sb)
How 掳 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. To catch 虏 someone by the hand 扌; 虏 also provides the pronunciation.
Radical: 扌 (hand), shared by 342 characters on this site.
How to remember 掳
The hand 扌 grabs a captive 虏 (lǔ). A hand seizing a prisoner means to capture, and 虏 also gives the sound lǔ.
掳 is a bound form, so it usually appears in compounds like 掳走 (lǔzǒu, to abduct) or 掳掠 (lǔlüè, to pillage) rather than on its own. It often shows up in news and stories about kidnapping or raids. Example: 孩子被坏人掳走了。(Háizi bèi huàirén lǔzǒu le.) The child was abducted by bad people.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 掳 with 虏 (lǔ). They have the same sound, but 虏 is the noun for a captive, as in 俘虏 (fúlǔ, prisoner of war), while 掳 with the hand radical is the action of seizing. Another mix-up is 撸 (lū), which is first tone and means to rub or roll up sleeves.
Common words with 掳
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 掳走 | lǔzǒu | to abduct |
Questions about 掳
How many strokes are in 掳?
掳 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 掳 mean?
掳 (lǔ) means to capture, to seize. A common word with it is 掳走 (lǔzǒu), meaning "to abduct".
How do you pronounce 掳?
掳 is pronounced lǔ, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 掳?
The radical of 掳 is 扌, which carries the idea of "hand". Dictionaries list 掳 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 掳?
The traditional form of 掳 is 擄. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 掳 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 掳走 and 绑架?
Both can mean to kidnap. 绑架 (bǎngjià) is the everyday and legal word, often implying ransom. 掳走 stresses grabbing someone and carrying them off, and it sounds a bit more literary or dramatic.
Is 掳 used in any common set phrases?
Yes, 掳掠 (lǔlüè) means to loot and carry off people and goods, often used about bandits or invading armies. 烧杀掳掠 (shāo shā lǔ lüè), burning, killing and looting, is a fixed phrase for wartime atrocities.