Definitions

gǎo (verb) to do; to handle; to take care of
gǎo (verb) to set up; to establish
gǎo (verb) to get hold of; to obtain

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "搞" is a relatively late addition to the Chinese writing system, with its structure clearly indicating its original sense through the combination of the hand radical (扌) on the left and the phonetic component 高 (gāo) on the right, suggesting an action performed by hand. Its core meaning historically revolved around the idea of doing, making, or handling something, often with a sense of engagement or manipulation. Over time, its application broadened significantly from this concrete foundation into a highly versatile verb that can abstractly mean to manage, to undertake, to set up, or to be involved in an activity, with its precise nuance heavily dependent on context and the objects it accompanies. This semantic expansion has made it an exceedingly common and functionally flexible word in modern usage, capable of substituting for many more specific verbs in colloquial speech.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他在卫生。

Tā zài gǎo wèishēng.

He is cleaning.

我们了一个派对。

Wǒmen gǎo le yī gè pàiduì.

We threw a party.

请你清楚情况。

Qǐng nǐ gǎo qīngchu qíngkuàng.

Please understand the situation clearly.

这件事得很麻烦。

Zhè jiàn shì gǎo de hěn máfan.

This matter has been made very troublesome.

他们正在一个新项目。

Tāmen zhèngzài gǎo yī gè xīn xiàngmù.

They are working on a new project.

科研需要耐心和毅力。

Gǎo kēyán xūyào nàixīn hé yìlì.

Doing scientific research requires patience and perseverance.

错了会议的时间。

Tā gǎo cuò le huìyì de shíjiān.

He got the meeting time wrong.

这个问题很难定。

Zhè gè wèntí hěn nán gǎo dìng.

This problem is hard to solve.