About
The character 收 combines the left component 丩 (jiū, intertwine) and the right radical 攵 (pū, strike/action). Its original sense was to arrest or detain, using the action radical to indicate physical force in seizing. Over time, the meaning broadened from physically detaining individuals to the general concept of receiving, collecting, or harvesting. The left component suggests entanglement, which, paired with the radical denoting action, conveyed the initial idea of apprehending. Today, it is commonly used for gathering crops, accepting objects, or finishing an activity, showing a shift from forceful seizure to general acquisition.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我收到一封信。
请收拾桌子。
他每天收快递。
我们需要收入证明。
公司决定收费服务。
农民秋天收获粮食。
她收藏了很多古董。
政府收回了之前的政策。