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Chinese vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "to hold" in Chinese?
拿
ná
In Chinese, "to hold" is 拿.
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Pronunciation
Pronounce as NAH with a rising tone. The pitch starts mid-range and lifts upward.
Writing and usage
The same character as 'to take from'. It has ten strokes with a hand radical (手) on the right.
Example sentence
我拿着一个杯子。
I hold a cup.
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How to remember 拿
Holding and taking are related actions. Both involve your hand grasping and controlling an object.
Related words
- enter 进入 jìn rù
- go 去 qù
- make 做 zuò
- meet 见 jiàn
- read 读 dú
- rest 休息 xiū xi
- shower 洗澡 xǐ zǎo
- swim 游泳 yóu yǒng
- wash 洗 xǐ
Browse all Chinese words in the glossary.
Questions about 拿
How do you say "to hold" in Chinese?
In Chinese, "to hold" is 拿. It is a noun.
How is 拿 written in Chinese?
The same character as 'to take from'. It has ten strokes with a hand radical (手) on the right.
How is 拿 used in a sentence?
Use 拿 as you would use the equivalent noun in English. For example: 我拿着一个杯子。 (I hold a cup.).
Where can I practice Chinese words for free?
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"To hold" in other languages
Curated by Jack Ratcliffe
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