摳 meaning and stroke order
To lift, to raise; tight-fisted
How to write 摳, stroke by stroke
14 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
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- 14
Meaning of 摳
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to dig; to pick; to scratch (with a finger or sth pointed)
- to carve; to cut
- to study meticulously
- stingy; miserly
- to lift up (esp. the hem of a robe)
How 摳 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Hand.
扌 gives the meaning and 區 hints at the sound.
Radical: 扌 (hand), shared by 342 characters on this site.
How to remember 摳
摳 combines the hand 扌 with 區 (qū), which gives the sound. Picture a hand poking its fingers into a small space to dig or pick something out.
In everyday speech 摳 (kōu) most often means to pick or dig with a finger, or, describing a person, to be stingy. It also appears in phrases like 摳字眼 (kōu zìyǎn), to nitpick over wording. Example: 他太摳了，從來不請客。(Tā tài kōu le, cónglái bù qǐngkè.) He is so stingy that he never treats anyone.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 摳 (kōu) with 驅 (qū, to drive) or 區 (qū, area) because they share the same right side. The hand radical 扌 tells you it is a hand action, and the reading is kōu, not qū.
Questions about 摳
How many strokes are in 摳?
摳 is written with 14 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 摳 mean?
摳 (kōu) means to lift, to raise; tight-fisted.
How do you pronounce 摳?
摳 is pronounced kōu, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 摳?
The radical of 摳 is 扌, which carries the idea of "hand". Dictionaries list 摳 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 摳?
摳 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 抠, used in mainland China and Singapore.
How do you say someone is stingy using 摳?
You can simply say 他很摳 (tā hěn kōu), or use the more vivid 摳門兒 (kōuménr), which is common in northern speech. Both are informal and a bit teasing.
Is 摳 polite to use about picking your nose or ears?
Yes, 摳鼻子 (kōu bízi) and 摳耳朵 (kōu ěrduo) are the normal everyday words for these actions. They are plain and descriptive, not rude, though the actions themselves may be.