Definitions
(noun)
claw; talon
(noun)
claw; talon; foot of cooking pot
Etymology
Pictograph of a hand pointing downwards.
About
The character "爪" originated as a pictographic depiction of a hand with fingers or claws, directly representing the concept of grasping or scratching. Its structure has remained largely unchanged, serving as a stable symbol for claws and nails throughout the history of Chinese writing. The meaning initially centered on animal claws but gradually extended to encompass human fingernails and related actions, such as seizing or scraping. This semantic expansion is evident when "爪" functions as a component in compound characters, like in "抓", where it contributes the notion of grabbing. Over time, the character transitioned from a concrete pictorial element to an abstract linguistic unit, retaining its core association with manual prehension while integrating into a broader lexical framework.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
猫的爪子很锋利。
小狗用爪子挖洞。
鹰的爪子抓住了一条鱼。
他是那个犯罪集团的爪牙。
这只熊的爪子非常大。
猴子用爪子灵活地爬树。
猎豹的爪子帮助它快速奔跑。
在古代，龙爪是权力和力量的象征。