掻 (sāo) - To scratch & to scrape

掻Tone 1

sāo ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

三姗

掻 · sāo

To scratch;

to scrape;

to claw;

to disturb;

to stir up;

to cause trouble.

To scratchto scrapeto claw

Usage highlights

Scratch an itchScratch the headDisturb the peaceStir up troubleScrape together moneyClaw at something

Synonyms

  • 抓— to grab, to scratch
  • 挠— to scratch
  • 刮— to scrape

Antonyms

  • 抚— to stroke, to caress
  • 摸— to touch gently

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The cat scratches the furniture (猫掻家具).
  • He scratched his head in confusion (困惑地掻头).
  • The noise disturbed my sleep (噪音掻扰了我的睡眠).
  • She stirred the soup with a spoon (用勺子掻拌汤).

Collocations

  • Scratch an itch(掻痒)
  • Scratch the head(掻头)
  • Disturb the peace(掻扰)
  • Stir up trouble(掻动)
  • Scrape together money(掻钱)
  • Claw at something(掻抓)

Idioms

  • Scratching the head and cheeks(掻头摸耳)
  • Scratching where it itches(掻到痒处)
  • Stirring up waves(掻风搅浪)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character 掻 depicts the hand radical (扌) combined with 蚤 (flea), suggesting the action of scratching to relieve itching.
  • In traditional Chinese medicine, scratching certain acupuncture points is sometimes used to stimulate energy flow.
  • The character appears in various idiomatic expressions related to restlessness, disturbance, or solving problems.

FAQ