揸 meaning and stroke order
Handful; to grasp, to seize
How to write 揸, 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 揸
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to stretch fingers out
How 揸 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Hand.
扌 gives the meaning and 查 hints at the sound.
Radical: 扌 (hand), shared by 342 characters on this site.
How to remember 揸
The hand radical 扌 sits beside 查 (chá), which gives the sound. Picture a hand reaching out to grab something so you can check it, and you have 揸 (zhā), to grasp.
揸 is rare in standard Mandarin but common in Cantonese, where it means to hold, grab, or drive. In Mandarin texts you may see it with the sense of spreading the fingers or taking a handful, as in 揸一把米 (zhā yī bǎ mǐ), grab a handful of rice.
Common mistake: Learners often read 揸 as chá because of the phonetic 查. The correct reading is zhā with a first tone. Also do not confuse it with 楂 (zhā), which has the tree radical 木 and appears in 山楂 (shānzhā), hawthorn.
Questions about 揸
How many strokes are in 揸?
揸 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 揸 mean?
揸 (zhā) means handful; to grasp, to seize.
How do you pronounce 揸?
揸 is pronounced zhā, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 揸?
The radical of 揸 is 扌, which carries the idea of "hand". Dictionaries list 揸 under this radical.
Why do I see 揸 more in Hong Kong than in mainland China?
揸 is a common Cantonese word for holding or grabbing. You will see it in phrases like 揸車 (drive a car) on Hong Kong signs and in Cantonese writing. In standard Mandarin, people usually say 抓 (zhuā) or 拿 (ná) instead.
What is the Mandarin word I should use instead of 揸 in everyday speech?
For grabbing or seizing, use 抓 (zhuā). For simply holding or taking something, use 拿 (ná). Both are far more common than 揸 in Mandarin.