取

qǔ

又 + 耳

HSK 2.0Level 4

HSK 3.0Level 4

Definitions

qǔ (verb) to fetch; to take; to get

qǔ (verb) to choose

Etymology

Pictograph of a hand (又) grabbing an ear (耳). In ancient China, the ears of opponents in battle were cut off and collected as tokens of victory.

About

取 combines the components 耳 (ear) and 又 (hand), vividly depicting a hand seizing an ear. This graphic composition recalls the ancient practice of cutting off the left ears of defeated enemies or captured game as a concrete way to tally military or hunting success. Over centuries, the violent origins faded from memory, and the character generalized to the everyday meanings of taking, obtaining, or receiving objects. It later extended to abstract senses like selecting an option or adopting a method.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

取钱要去银行。

Qǔ qián yào qù yínháng.

To withdraw money, you need to go to the bank.

我下楼去取快递。

Wǒ xiàlóu qù qǔ kuàidì.

I'm going downstairs to pick up the delivery package.

他取得了很好的成绩。

Tā qǔdéle hěn hǎo de chéngjī.

He achieved very good results.

请认真听取大家的意见。

Qǐng rènzhēn tīngqǔ dàjiā de yìjiàn.

Please listen carefully to everyone's opinions.

从网上可以获取很多信息。

Cóng wǎngshàng kěyǐ huòqǔ hěnduō xìnxī.

You can acquire a lot of information from the internet.

公司决定取消这次会议。

Gōngsī juédìng qǔxiāo zhè cì huìyì.

The company decided to cancel this meeting.

我们要从失败中汲取教训。

Wǒmen yào cóng shībài zhōng jíqǔ jiàoxun.

We must learn a lesson from our failure.

研究人员正在现场取样。

Yánjiū rényuán zhèngzài xiànchǎng qǔyàng.

The researchers are taking samples on site.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 又

Component: 耳

Example Words