掐 (qiā) - To pinch & to clutch tightly

掐Tone 1

qiā ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

器情

掐 · qiā

To pinch;

to clutch tightly;

to nip with fingers;

to strangle;

to grasp (as in time or opportunity).

To pinchto clutch tightlyto nip with fingers

Usage highlights

Pinch offStrangle to deathGrab and holdCalculate preciselyPinch a personPinch the tip

Synonyms

  • 捏— To pinch; to knead
  • 夹— To clamp; to pinch
  • 扼— To clutch; to strangle

Antonyms

  • 放— To release; to let go
  • 松— To loosen; to relax

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • She pinched her arm to stay awake (掐自己).
  • The thief was caught red-handed (被当场掐住).
  • He calculated the time precisely (掐算时间).
  • The gardener pinched off the dead flowers (掐掉枯花).

Collocations

  • Pinch off(掐掉)
  • Strangle to death(掐死)
  • Grab and hold(掐住)
  • Calculate precisely(掐算)
  • Pinch a person(掐人)
  • Pinch the tip(掐尖)

Idioms

  • To be able to calculate and forecast(能掐会算)
  • Pinch an inch (measure fat)(掐一掐)
  • Grasp the exact moment(掐准时机)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character 掐 is often used in the context of traditional fortune-telling (算命), where '能掐会算' describes someone who can foretell events through calculation.
  • In martial arts and combat contexts, 掐 can refer to vital point strikes or choking techniques.
  • In gardening and agriculture, 掐 refers to the practice of pinching off unwanted buds or shoots to encourage better growth.

FAQ