About
The character "拧" originates from the traditional form "擰", which is composed of the hand radical (扌) indicating an action performed by hand, and the component "寧" serving primarily as a phonetic element. Its core etymological meaning is "to twist with the hands", as in wringing out a cloth or twisting an object, a sense that remains central to its use. From this concrete physical action, its meaning extended metaphorically into abstract domains, giving rise to common figurative uses such as describing a stubborn or contrary disposition, as in being argumentative or "difficult", or to denote a disagreement or misunderstanding in speech or viewpoint. In more modern mechanical contexts, it has also acquired the specific meaning of tightening by turning, such as screwing in a bolt or a lid. The simplified form replaced the complex phonetic "寧" with the simpler "宁", but the character's semantic range, bridging physical manipulation and figurative obstinacy, continues to reflect its foundational action.
Example Sentences Hide
妈妈拧干了衣服。
他拧开了瓶盖。
弟弟拧紧了螺丝。
不要拧那个开关。
因为太紧，我拧不动。
他先拧松螺丝，然后取下零件。
她的脾气很拧，不听劝告。
工程师拧紧了所有螺栓，确保设备安全。