拓

tuò, tà

扌 + 石

Definitions

tuò (verb) to expand; to develop

tuò (verb) to push; to press with hand

tà (verb) to make a rubbing

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 石 represents the sound.

Semantic: 扌 Phonetic: 石

About

A phono-semantic compound, 拓 combines the hand radical 扌, indicating a manual action, with 石 (stone) as the phonetic element. Its primary meaning is to open up, expand, develop, or clear out, especially in reference to land, territory, or one's horizons. When pronounced differently, it refers to making ink rubbings from stone inscriptions, bronze vessels, or other textured surfaces, a technique important for historical documentation and calligraphy preservation.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他拓印了石碑上的字。

Tā tà yìn le shíbēi shàng de zì.

He made a rubbing of the characters on the stone tablet.

我们需要拓展空间。

Wǒmen xūyào tuòzhǎn kōngjiān.

We need to expand our space.

开拓新领域是挑战。

Kāituò xīn lǐngyù shì tiǎozhàn.

Opening up new fields is a challenge.

拓荒者们创建了家园。

Tuòhuāng zhě men chuàngjiàn le jiāyuán.

The pioneers built their homeland.

拓扑结构非常复杂。

Tuòpū jiégòu fēicháng fùzá.

The topological structure is very complex.

公司致力于拓展国际市场。

Gōngsī zhìlì yú tuòzhǎn guójì shìchǎng.

The company is committed to expanding the international market.

开拓思维有助于解决问题。

Kāituò sīwéi yǒu zhù yú jiějué wèntí.

Broadening thinking helps to solve problems.

为了拓展示范区的影响，政府加大了宣传力度。

Wèile tuòzhǎn shìfàn qū de yǐngxiǎng, zhèngfǔ jiā dà le xuānchuán lìdù.

In order to expand the influence of the demonstration area, the government increased publicity efforts.

Related Characters

Component: 扌

Component: 石

拓