把

bǎ
HSK 3
#110 most
frequent character
to hold, to contain, to grasp
verb
Measure Word

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

把 joins 扌 hand with 巴 bā, which means 'grasp, hold in hand' and also suggests the sound. Together they point to the first sense 'to grab, to hold'. That grew to 'to protect' in the bǎ reading; read bà, it means 'handle'.

把 as a component in other characters

sound1 character
筢

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Example Sentences

请把书给我。
qǐng bǎ shū gěi wǒ 。
Please give me the book.
他把球扔了。
tā bǎ qiú rēng le 。
He threw the ball.
把门关上。
bǎ mén guān shàng 。
Close the door.

Grammar Points

HSK 3
Using "ba" sentences
HSK 5
Advanced uses of "ba"把…当成把…当回事+3
HSK 2
Verbs followed by "gei"

Same Characters, Different Readings

把bà
handle

Words with similar meanings

拿ná
to take
More general term for taking or holding something.
持chí
to hold
More formal term, often used in legal or formal contexts.

Words Starting With 把

把握bǎ wò
to grasp (also fig.); to seize; to hold; assurance; certainty; sure (of the outcome)
把关bǎ guān
to guard a pass; to check on sth
把戏bǎ xì
acrobatics; jugglery; cheap trick; game
把手bǎ shǒu
handle; grip; knob

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Public Lists with 把

Measure Words
Commonly used measure words (个, 张, 本, etc.) across various contexts.
HSK 3
All words for the HSK 3 test
Basic Verbs
Core action verbs like 'go,' 'come,' 'eat,' 'see,' commonly encountered in HSK.