搞

gǎo

扌 + 高

HSK 2.0Level 5

HSK 3.0Level 5

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. 扌 represents the meaning and 高 represents the sound.

Semantic: 扌 Phonetic: 高

About

搞 is a versatile verb meaning to do, make, manage, or set up. It is a phono-semantic compound: the hand radical 扌 (shǒu) on the left indicates action, and the right component 高 (gāo) gives the pronunciation. Originally a southern Chinese dialect word, it entered mainstream usage as a flexible colloquial term for a wide range of activities, often substituting for more formal verbs in everyday speech.

Etymology Hide

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他在搞卫生。

Tā zài gǎo wèishēng.

He is cleaning.

我们搞了一个派对。

Wǒmen gǎo le yī gè pàiduì.

We threw a party.

请你搞清楚情况。

Qǐng nǐ gǎo qīngchu qíngkuàng.

Please understand the situation clearly.

这件事搞得很麻烦。

Zhè jiàn shì gǎo de hěn máfan.

This matter has been made very troublesome.

他们正在搞一个新项目。

Tāmen zhèngzài gǎo yī gè xīn xiàngmù.

They are working on a new project.

搞科研需要耐心和毅力。

Gǎo kēyán xūyào nàixīn hé yìlì.

Doing scientific research requires patience and perseverance.

他搞错了会议的时间。

Tā gǎo cuò le huìyì de shíjiān.

He got the meeting time wrong.

这个问题很难搞定。

Zhè gè wèntí hěn nán gǎo dìng.

This problem is hard to solve.

Related Characters

Component: 扌

Component: 高

搞