撮 meaning and stroke order
Dash, pinch, small amount
How to write 撮, stroke by stroke
15 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 撮
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to pick up (a powder etc) with the fingertips
- to scoop up
- to collect together
- to extract
- to gather up
- classifier: pinch
- classifier for hair or grass: tuft
- Taiwan pr. [cuo4]
How 撮 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Hand.
扌 gives the meaning and 最 hints at the sound.
Radical: 扌 (hand), shared by 342 characters on this site.
How to remember 撮
撮 combines the hand radical 扌 with 最 (zuì), which gives the sound. Picture your hand picking up only the very smallest bit, just a pinch between your fingertips.
撮 (cuō) means to pinch or scoop up something small, and it works as a measure word for a pinch of salt, tea, or powder. It also appears in the common verb 撮合 (cuōhe), to bring two people together. Example: 放一撮盐。(Fàng yì cuō yán.) Add a pinch of salt.
Common mistake: Learners often read 撮 as zuì because of the phonetic part 最, but the usual reading is cuō. Also do not confuse it with 摄 (shè), as in 摄影, which has a different right side.
Common words with 撮
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 撮合 | cuōhe | to play matchmaker; to act as a middleman |
Questions about 撮
How many strokes are in 撮?
撮 is written with 15 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 撮 mean?
撮 (cuō) means dash, pinch, small amount. A common word with it is 撮合 (cuōhe), meaning "to play matchmaker; to act as a middleman".
How do you pronounce 撮?
撮 is pronounced cuō, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 撮?
The radical of 撮 is 扌, which carries the idea of "hand". Dictionaries list 撮 under this radical.
When is 撮 pronounced zuǒ?
When it is a measure word for a tuft of hair or grass, it is read zuǒ, as in 一撮毛 (yì zuǒ máo), a tuft of hair. In Taiwan this reading is given as cuò.
Is 撮合 only used for romance?
No. 撮合 (cuōhe) often means matchmaking, but it can also mean helping two sides reach a deal or cooperate. The second syllable is usually said in the neutral tone.