撬 (qiào) - To pry & to lever up

撬Tone 4

qiào ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

器情

撬 · qiào

To pry;

to lever up;

to lift or move something using a lever;

to pry open.

To pryto lever upto lift or move something using a lever

Usage highlights

Pry openLever upPry doorPry lockPry outCrowbar

Synonyms

  • 扳— To pull; to turn; to扳动 (similar mechanical action)
  • 抬— To lift; to raise (general lifting)

Antonyms

  • 压— To press down; to suppress (opposite of lifting up)
  • 关— To close; to shut (opposite of prying open)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He used a crowbar to pry open the door (撬门).
  • They levered up the heavy stone (撬起石头).
  • She pried the lid off the box (撬开盒子).
  • The mechanic used a tool to pry out the nail (撬出钉子).

Collocations

  • Pry open(撬开)
  • Lever up(撬起)
  • Pry door(撬门)
  • Pry lock(撬锁)
  • Pry out(撬出)
  • Crowbar(撬棍)

Idioms

  • Pry the corner and lift the lock(撬角起锁)
  • Pry the east wall to patch the west wall(撬东墙补西墙)
  • Pry heaven and shake earth(撬天震地)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character is strongly associated with physical force and mechanical advantage through lever action.
  • Often appears in contexts of forced entry or mechanical repair, giving it practical, hands-on connotations.
  • While not common in names, it can metaphorically suggest 'prying open' opportunities or solutions.

FAQ