Definitions

cǎi (verb) to pick; to collect; to gather
cǎi (noun) color; complexion; appearance
cài (noun) feudal allotment

Etymology

Pictograph of a hand () picking fruit from a tree ().

About

采 is an associative compound of 爫 (hand) over 木 (tree), depicting the action of plucking leaves or fruit. This structure conveys the core meaning of gathering or collecting. While 采 is the original form, the later variant 採 incorporates the hand radical 扌 to emphasize the manual action. Today, 采 is used for gathering and for concepts related to appearance, complexion, or spirit.

Example Sentences Hide

妈妈了很多水果。

Māma cǎi le hěnduō shuǐguǒ.

Mom picked a lot of fruits.

他喜欢蘑菇。

Tā xǐhuān cǎi mógu.

He likes to pick mushrooms.

我们在公园里花。

Wǒmen zài gōngyuán lǐ cǎi huā.

We pick flowers in the park.

记者访了那位明星。

Jìzhě cǎifǎng le nà wèi míngxīng.

The journalist interviewed that celebrity.

公司取了一项新政策。

Gōngsī cǎiqǔ le yī xiàng xīn zhèngcè.

The company adopted a new policy.

购部门负责购买办公用品。

Cǎigòu bùmén fùzé gòumǎi bàngōng yòngpǐn.

The purchasing department is responsible for buying office supplies.

她的风吸引了所有人的目光。

Tā de fēngcǎi xīyǐn le suǒyǒu rén de mùguāng.

Her elegance attracted everyone's attention.

在做出决定之前,我们必须集更多数据。

Zài zuò chū juédìng zhīqián, wǒmen bìxū cǎijí gèng duō shùjù.

Before making a decision, we must collect more data.