抄

chāo
少 + 扌
HSK 2.0Level 5
HSK 3.0Level 6

Definitions

chāo (verb) to copy; to make a copy
chāo (verb) to plagiarize
chāo (verb) to search and seize; to raid
chāo (verb) to take a shortcut

Etymology

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

Semantic: 扌 Phonetic: 少

About

抄 is a phonosemantic compound: 扌 (hand) indicates a manual action, while 少 (shǎo) supplies the sound and also means "few" or "little", hinting at the original sense of seizing or taking a small amount. Over time, the meaning shifted to transcribing text by hand, and today the character covers copying documents, duplicating information, and the negative connotation of plagiarizing written work.

Example Sentences Hide

他在抄写课文。

Tā zài chāoxiě kèwén.

He is copying the text.

我每天抄写生词。

Wǒ měitiān chāoxiě shēngcí.

I copy new words every day.

抄袭别人的作业不对。

Chāoxí biérén de zuòyè bù duì.

Copying others' homework is not right.

请抄送这份文件给我。

Qǐng chāosòng zhè fèn wénjiàn gěi wǒ.

Please send a copy of this document to me.

她抄录了重要的信息。

Tā chāolùle zhòngyào de xìnxī.

She transcribed the important information.

古代犯罪可能会被抄家。

Gǔdài fànzuì kěnéng huì bèi chāojiā.

In ancient times, criminals might have their property confiscated.

我们抄近路去学校吧。

Wǒmen chāo jìnlù qù xuéxiào ba.

Let's take a shortcut to school.

他因抄袭论文被学校开除。

Tā yīn chāoxí lùnwén bèi xuéxiào kāichú.

He was expelled from school for plagiarizing a thesis.

Related Characters

Component: 少

省 沙 妙 劣 秒 吵 纱 炒 钞 砂 眇 杪 耖 紗

Component: 扌

把 提 打 报 接 指 据 拉 持 技 找 推 投 护

Example Words

抄袭 小抄 抄家 抄写 抄底 抄手 抄近路 抄送 摘抄 包抄 手抄本 抄小路 抄本 抄录 查抄 照抄