撥 (bō) - To dial & to allocate

撥Tone 1

bō ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

傲不

撥 · bō

To dial;

to allocate;

to poke or stir;

to turn or move aside;

to pluck (strings);

to transfer funds.

To dialto allocateto poke or stir

Usage highlights

Dial a numberAllocate fundsPoke/stirPluck stringsAdjust/rectifyTurn aside

Synonyms

  • 挑— to pick; to poke
  • 动— to move
  • 分— to allocate; to distribute

Antonyms

  • 接— to receive; to connect (antonym in communication context)
  • 收— to collect; to receive (antonym in fund transfer context)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Please dial the phone number (拨电话号码).
  • The government allocated funds for the project (拨款).
  • He used a stick to poke the fire (拨火).
  • She plucked the strings of the guqin (拨动琴弦).

Collocations

  • Dial a number(拨号)
  • Allocate funds(拨款)
  • Poke/stir(拨动)
  • Pluck strings(拨弦)
  • Adjust/rectify(拨正)
  • Turn aside(拨开)

Idioms

  • Set right what has been thrown into disorder(拨乱反正)
  • Turn the clouds and see the sun(拨云见日)
  • Pluck the lamp and poke the fire(拨灯拨火)
  • Pluck the strings and play the zither(拨弦弄琴)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Associated with traditional Chinese instruments like guqin and pipa where string plucking (拨) is fundamental.
  • In administrative context, implies deliberate allocation or distribution of resources.
  • The idiom 拨乱反正 carries significant historical weight, referring to correcting chaos and restoring order.

FAQ