How to Write 掠 (lüè) — Meaning “to graze or sweep past”

A common mistake is mixing up the right component 京 with 就 (jiù) or 惊 (jīng). To avoid this, remember that 掠 has 京 on the right, which looks like a tall building with a dot on top. For stroke order, start with the left hand radical (扌), then write the top dot of 京, followed by the horizontal line, then the middle '口' shape, and finally the bottom '小' strokes. Practice writing it a few times to get the flow.

While all three have the hand radical, they differ in meaning and right components. 拜 (bài) means 'to worship' and has a unique right side that looks like two hands together. 括 (kuò) means 'to include' or 'to tie', with 舌 (shé, tongue) on the right. 掠 (lüè) specifically means 'to sweep past' or 'to plunder', with 京 (jīng) on the right. So the right component gives a clue to the sound and sometimes the meaning, but the core action is always hand-related.

In daily Chinese, 掠 is often used in contexts of swift movement or forceful taking. For example, 掠过 (lüè guò) means 'to skim over' or 'to flash past', like a bird flying over water or a car speeding by. 掠夺 (lüè duó) means 'to plunder' and is used in historical or news contexts about looting. 掠取 (lüè qǔ) is similar to 'to seize'. You might hear these in news reports or literature, but in everyday conversation, people often use simpler words like 抢 (qiǎng) for 'to rob'.

Historically, 掠 was often used in military contexts to describe raiding and plundering, as seen in ancient texts about warfare. The character's right component 京 originally meant 'a high hill' or 'capital city', and in ancient times, raids often targeted cities for resources. Understanding this historical background helps you see why 掠 carries a sense of forceful taking. Also, in Chinese poetry, 掠 is used to describe the graceful, swift movement of birds or wind, adding a literary flavor.

掠 combines with various characters to create words with different nuances. For instance, 掠过 (lüè guò) means 'to sweep past' or 'to skim over', used for physical movement like '飞机掠过天空' (the plane skimmed the sky). 掠夺 (lüè duó) means 'to plunder', as in '掠夺资源' (plunder resources). 掠取 (lüè qǔ) is similar but focuses on 'taking' something, like '掠取财富' (seize wealth). These combinations show how 掠 adapts to contexts of speed and force.

Common words containing 掠 include: 掠过 (lüè guò) — to skim over / to flash past; 掠夺 (lüè duó) — to plunder or pillage; 掠取 (lüè qǔ) — to seize or plunder.