撮

cuō, zuǒ

扌 + 最

Definitions

cuō (verb) to pick up with fingertips; to scoop up

cuō (verb) to gather; to collect together

zuǒ (classifier) classifier for hair or grass: tuft

Etymology

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

Semantic: 扌 Phonetic: 最

About

撮 is a phono-semantic compound: 扌 (shǒu, hand) carries the meaning, while 最 (zuì) gives the sound. The hand radical suggests an action done with the hand or fingers. Its original meaning is to bring the fingertips together to pinch, gather, or pick up a small amount of something, like salt or powder. From this action, 撮 also became a measure word for small pinches or tufts of material, such as a pinch of soil or a tuft of hair.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal Xin dynasty (9-23 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这是一小撮茶叶。

Zhè shì yī xiǎo cuō chá yè.

This is a small handful of tea leaves.

他们撮合了一对情侣。

Tāmen cuōhé le yī duì qínglǚ.

They mediated a match for a couple.

他撮要地介绍了计划。

Tā cuōyào de jièshào le jìhuà.

He briefly introduced the plan.

我撮起一些沙子。

Wǒ cuō qǐ yīxiē shāzi.

I gathered up some sand.

不要撮弄那个小孩。

Bùyào cuōnòng nàgè xiǎo hái.

Don't tease that child.

她用手撮了一撮面粉。

Tā yòng shǒu cuō le yī cuō miànfěn.

She used her hand to take a pinch of flour.

这一撮人经常聚会。

Zhè yī cuō rén jīngcháng jùhuì.

This small group of people often gather.

他负责撮要报告的内容。

Tā fùzé cuōyào bàogào de nèiróng.

He is responsible for summarizing the content of the report.

Related Characters

Component: 扌

Component: 最

撮