拱

gǒng

共 + 扌

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

gǒng to cup one's hands in salute; to surround; to arch; to dig earth with the snout; arched

Etymology

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

Semantic: 扌 Phonetic: 共

About

拱 is a phonosemantic compound combining the hand radical 扌 on the left and the character 共 on the right. 扌 ties the character to manual gestures and actions, while 共 (which means "together" on its own) provides the sound. The original meaning is a formal cupped-hand salute: one hand folded over the other and held before the chest as a greeting. From the arched shape of the arms in this pose, 拱 later referred to any upwardly curved structure, such as a bridge or doorway, and to the motion of pushing upward or bending the body into an arch.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他向我拱了拱手。

Tā xiàng wǒ gǒng le gǒng shǒu.

He cupped his hands in salute to me.

那座拱桥很古老。

Nà zuò gǒngqiáo hěn gǔlǎo.

That arch bridge is very ancient.

我们穿过了拱门。

Wǒmen chuānguò le gǒngmén.

We passed through the archway.

小猪用鼻子拱土。

Xiǎo zhū yòng bízi gǒng tǔ.

The piglet uses its snout to push the soil.

孩子们在拱形门下玩耍。

Háizimen zài gǒngxíngmén xià wánshuǎ.

The children are playing under the archway.

这座石拱桥历史悠久。

Zhè zuò shí gǒngqiáo lìshǐ yōujiǔ.

This stone arch bridge has a long history.

他拱手让出了领导位置。

Tā gǒngshǒu ràng chū le lǐngdǎo wèizhi.

He willingly gave up the leadership position.

为了表示尊敬，他拱着手向长辈行礼。

Wèile biǎoshì zūnjìng, tā gǒng zhe shǒu xiàng zhǎngbèi xínglǐ.

To show respect, he cupped his hands and bowed to the elders.

Related Characters

Component: 共

Component: 扌

拱