HSK 3

English Meaning

📚 Example Sentences

我拿一本书。
Wǒ ná yī běn shū.
I take a book.
他拿着手机。
Tā názhe shǒujī.
He is holding a phone.
请拿一杯水。
Qǐng ná yī bēi shuǐ.
Please take a glass of water.
我拿苹果。
Wǒ ná píngguǒ.
I take an apple.
他拿书包。
Tā ná shūbāo.
He holds the schoolbag.

💡 Memory Tip

Imagine your hand (手) grabbing something—the character 拿 includes 手 (hand) at the bottom, reminding you it's about taking with your hand.

📝 Usage Notes

Used frequently in both spoken and written Chinese, in formal and informal contexts. Common in daily life for actions like taking items, fetching objects, or in abstract phrases (e.g., 'to take a test').

📖 Grammar Points

Used as a main verb (e.g., 拿书). In serial verb constructions like 拿来 (ná lái, 'bring here') or 拿去 (ná qù, 'take away'). Also in resultative complements: 拿不动 (unable to lift).

🏯 Cultural Notes

In idioms like 拿手好戏 (ná shǒu hǎo xì, 'one's specialty'), reflecting skill. Can imply 'to control' in contexts like 拿他没办法 ('can't handle him'), showing interpersonal dynamics.

🔄 Similar Words

Compared to 取 (qǔ, 'to get/fetch' often from a specific place like a bank) and 带 (dài, 'to bring/carry along'), 拿 is more general for taking/holding. 抓 (zhuā) means 'to grab' with more force.

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