挠

撓
náo
#2,788 most
frequent character
to scratch
verb

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

挠 has 扌 a hand as its meaning part and 尧 yáo as a sound part. It first meant to throw into disorder. The meaning grew to thwart, then to yield or flinch. 'To scratch' was borrowed only for the sound, not from the shape.

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Example Sentences

猫在挠它的耳朵。
māo zài náo tāde ěrduǒ 。
The cat is scratching its ears.
狗在挠地面。
gǒu zài náo dìmiàn 。
The dog is scratching the ground.
我总是喜欢挠我的头发。
wǒ zǒngshì xǐhuān náo wǒde tóufà 。
I always like to scratch my hair.

Words with similar meanings

搔sāo
to scratch
This synonym is commonly used in colloquial contexts; it may imply a gentle or playful scratching rather than a vigorous action.

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