揪 meaning and stroke order
To seize; to clutch; to grab firmly and pull
How to write 揪, stroke by stroke
12 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 揪
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to seize
- to clutch
- to grab firmly and pull
How 揪 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Hand.
扌 gives the meaning and 秋 hints at the sound.
Radical: 扌 (hand), shared by 342 characters on this site.
How to remember 揪
The hand radical 扌 tells you this is an action, and 秋 (qiū, autumn) gives the sound. Picture a hand grabbing a fistful of autumn grain and pulling it up hard.
揪 (jiū) means to grab something firmly and pull, often hair, ears, or clothing. It also appears in 揪出 (jiūchū), to drag out or expose a hidden culprit. Example: 警察揪出了小偷。(Jǐngchá jiūchū le xiǎotōu.) The police ferreted out the thief.
Common mistake: Learners often read 揪 as qiū because of 秋, but the correct tone and initial are jiū. Also do not confuse it with 秋 itself, which lacks the hand radical and means autumn.
Common words with 揪
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 揪出 | jiūchū | to uncover; to ferret out (the culprit) |
Questions about 揪
How many strokes are in 揪?
揪 is written with 12 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 揪 mean?
揪 (jiū) means to seize; to clutch; to grab firmly and pull. A common word with it is 揪出 (jiūchū), meaning "to uncover; to ferret out (the culprit)".
How do you pronounce 揪?
揪 is pronounced jiū, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 揪?
The radical of 揪 is 扌, which carries the idea of "hand". Dictionaries list 揪 under this radical.
Is 揪 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 揪 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What does 揪心 (jiūxīn) mean?
揪心 means anxious or heart-wrenching, as if something is squeezing your heart. You might say 这个消息让人很揪心, meaning this news is very worrying.
How is 揪 different from 抓 (zhuā)?
抓 is a general word for grabbing or catching. 揪 is more specific: you grip tightly and pull, like 揪耳朵 (jiū ěrduo), to pull someone's ear.