爪

zhǎo, zhuǎ

Definitions

zhǎo (noun) claw; talon

zhuǎ (noun) claw; talon; foot of cooking pot

Etymology

Pictograph of a hand or claw pointing downwards.

About

The character 爪 is a pictograph of a hand or claw pointing downwards, originally depicting a human hand reaching to grab something, unlike other hand characters that face upward. Its meaning later narrowed to the sharp claws, talons, or paws of animals and predatory birds. As a foundational radical, it commonly sits atop compound characters to indicate actions of grasping, scratching, or manipulating. In modern botanical and mechanical usage, it also describes tool parts or plant structures that resemble animal talons.

Etymology Hide

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

猫的爪子很锋利。

Māo de zhuǎzi hěn fēnglì.

The cat's claws are very sharp.

小狗用爪子挖洞。

Xiǎo gǒu yòng zhuǎzi wā dòng.

The puppy uses its claws to dig a hole.

鹰的爪子抓住了一条鱼。

Yīng de zhuǎzi zhuā zhùle yī tiáo yú.

The eagle's claws caught a fish.

他是那个犯罪集团的爪牙。

Tā shì nàgè fànzuì jítuán de zhǎoyá.

He is a lackey of that criminal gang.

这只熊的爪子非常大。

Zhè zhǐ xióng de zhuǎzi fēicháng dà.

This bear's claws are very large.

猴子用爪子灵活地爬树。

Hóuzi yòng zhuǎzi línghuó de pá shù.

The monkey uses its claws to climb trees flexibly.

猎豹的爪子帮助它快速奔跑。

Lièbào de zhuǎzi bāngzhù tā kuàisù bēnpǎo.

The cheetah's claws help it run fast.

在古代，龙爪是权力和力量的象征。

Zài gǔdài, lóng zhǎo shì quánlì hé lìliàng de xiàngzhēng.

In ancient times, dragon claws were a symbol of power and strength.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 爪

爪