拱 (gǒng) - To cup one's hands in salute & to arch

拱Tone 3

gǒng ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical: 扌

枫惠

拱 · gǒng

To cup one's hands in salute;

to arch;

to surround;

to push with arched shape.

To cup one's hands in saluteto archto surround

Usage highlights

Cupping hands in saluteArch bridgeArchwayTo archSurrounding starsTo push with snout

Synonyms

  • 围— to surround
  • 环— to encircle
  • 拜— to bow, worship

Antonyms

  • 拉— to pull
  • 拆— to dismantle, take apart

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • They cupped their hands in salute (拱手).
  • The cat arched its back (拱起背).
  • A stone arch bridge (石拱桥).
  • Pigs root in the ground with their snouts (猪用鼻子拱土).

Collocations

  • Cupping hands in salute(拱手)
  • Arch bridge(拱桥)
  • Archway(拱门)
  • To arch(拱起)
  • Surrounding stars(拱卫星)
  • To push with snout(拱土)

Idioms

  • To cup the hands and yield(拱手相让)
  • The stars surrounding the moon(众星拱月)
  • Seven stars surrounding the Northern Dipper(七星拱斗)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The gesture of cupping hands (拱手礼) is a traditional Chinese greeting showing respect, often used instead of handshakes in ancient times.
  • In architecture, the arch (拱) is a key structural element in traditional Chinese bridges and gateways.
  • The character's 'hand' radical (扌) reflects its connection to manual actions like saluting and pushing.

FAQ