How to Write 拍 (pāi) — Meaning “To pat / To clap / To take (a photo)”

Imagine clapping your hands together, making a 'pa' sound — that sound matches the pinyin pāi. Picture your white (白) hand (扌) clapping or taking a photo with a camera that flashes white.

Write the left radical 扌 first: horizontal stroke, then vertical hook, then lift. Then write 白: start with a left-falling stroke, then vertical, then horizontal fold, two horizontal strokes inside, and finally a bottom horizontal. Keep the left side narrow and the right side balanced, and do not extend the lift of 扌 too far to the right.

托 (tuō) means 'to hold in the palm' or 'to support', while 拍 (pāi) means to pat, clap, or take a photo. Visually, 托 has 乇 (a different component) on the right instead of 白. Their meanings and pronunciations are completely distinct.

拍 is very common in everyday life. You use it when saying 拍照 (pāi zhào) for taking a photo, 拍手 (pāi shǒu) for clapping hands to applaud, and 拍球 (pāi qiú) for bouncing a ball. It often appears in casual and formal contexts, such as asking someone to take a picture or cheering at an event.

Common words containing 拍 include: 拍照 (pāi zhào) — To take a photo; 拍手 (pāi shǒu) — To clap hands; 拍球 (pāi qiú) — To bounce a ball.