How to Write 攫 (jué) — Meaning “to seize; to grab”

Imagine a hand (扌) snatching a jewel (think 'jewel' sounds like jué). The right side 矍 looks like two eyes (目) and a bird (隹) watching—so picture a hand grabbing a shiny jewel while someone watches in surprise.

This character has 23 strokes, so be patient. Start with the hand radical 扌 (3 strokes), then the top part 目 (5 strokes), followed by the left part of 隹 (4 strokes) and finally the right part of 隹 (4 strokes) plus the bottom 又 (2 strokes). A common mistake is making the 隹 portion too wide—keep it compact.

攫 means to seize or grab, often in a forceful or plundering way. 攥 (zuàn) means to grasp tightly in the hand, like holding a fistful of something. 攮 (nǎng) means to stab or thrust, using a sharp object. Visually, 攥 has more strokes on top, while 攮 has a different right side (囊).

攫 is mostly used in formal or literary contexts, such as news reports about '攫取 natural resources' or '攫夺 wealth,' implying greedy or aggressive taking. It is rarely used in daily conversation, so learners should recognize it in reading but not actively use it for speaking.

Common words containing 攫 include: 攫取 (jué qǔ) — to seize; to grab; to plunder; 攫夺 (jué duó) — to seize by force; to snatch; 攫住 (jué zhù) — to seize; to grab hold of.