推

tuī

扌 + 隹

HSK 2.0Level 4

HSK 3.0Level 4

Definitions

tuī (verb) to push; to shove

tuī (verb) to promote; to advance; to push forward

tuī (verb) to decline; to refuse; to reject

tuī (verb) to delay; to postpone

Etymology

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

Semantic: 扌 Phonetic: 隹

About

推 is a phono-semantic compound in which the hand radical 扌 signals a manual action, while 隹 (zhuī, a short-tailed bird) functions as the phonetic component. Its literal and foundational meaning is to physically push something forward or away. From this concrete action, the character's semantic range broadened to include abstract applications like promoting an idea or a person, inferring a conclusion from evidence (as in 推測), and advancing or propelling a plan or schedule.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他推开了大门。

Tā tuīkāi le dàmén.

He pushed open the big door.

请推荐一本好书。

Qǐng tuījiàn yī běn hǎo shū.

Please recommend a good book.

我们推迟了会议。

Wǒmen tuīchí le huìyì.

We postponed the meeting.

这项技术推动发展。

Zhè xiàng jìshù tuīdòng fāzhǎn.

This technology promotes development.

公司推广新产品。

Gōngsī tuīguǎng xīn chǎnpǐn.

The company is promoting new products.

他用推理解决问题。

Tā yòng tuīlǐ jiějué wèntí.

He uses reasoning to solve problems.

政府推动教育改革。

Zhèngfǔ tuīdòng jiàoyù gǎigé.

The government promotes education reform.

科学家推导出新理论。

Kēxuéjiā tuīdǎo chū xīn lǐlùn.

Scientists derived a new theory.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 扌

Component: 隹

推