How to Write 扭 (niǔ) — Meaning “to twist; to sprain; to turn around”

Imagine you are using your hand (扌) to twist a towel into an ugly (丑) shape. This visual of twisting something ugly helps link the components to the meaning of twisting or turning.

Write the left radical 扌 first: horizontal, vertical hook, lift. Then write 丑: horizontal fold, vertical, horizontal, horizontal. A common mistake is extending the vertical stroke of 丑 too far down; it should stop before the bottom of the lift stroke.

扭 has the right part 丑 and means to twist or sprain. 扑 has right part 卜 and means to throw or pounce, like in 扑倒. The rare character 㧜 is not commonly used; focus on the different right-side components and meanings.

扭 is common in daily life: 扭伤 (sprain), 扭头 (turn head), and 别扭 (awkward). Culturally, it appears in 扭秧歌 (yangge dance), a folk dance with twisting steps, especially during festivals.

Common words containing 扭 include: 扭伤 (niǔ shāng) — sprain; to sprain; 扭头 (niǔ tóu) — to turn one's head; 别扭 (biè niǔ) — Awkward or difficult..