How to Write 搠 (shuò) — Meaning “to thrust or poke”

Imagine a hand (扌) thrusting a stick at a crescent moon (朔, which contains 月 meaning moon). The stick pokes the moon, so you remember 搠 means "to thrust or poke." This visual connects the shape to the action.

Pay attention to the right part 朔: it has a 屰 (reverse) on top and 月 (moon) below, and both should be written compactly. A common mistake is making the right side too wide, which throws off the balance. Also, the hand radical's last stroke (a lift) should be short and sharp.

搠 (shuò) means to thrust or poke, while 挲 (suō) means to rub or stroke gently, and 捧 (pěng) means to hold in both hands. Visually, 搠 uses 朔 on the right, 挲 uses 沙 (sand), and 捧 uses 奉 (to offer). Each right part gives a different meaning and pronunciation.

搠 is not part of everyday HSK vocabulary, but it appears in classical texts and martial arts novels to describe stabbing or knocking down (e.g., 搠倒 means to push someone down). You might encounter it in stories from the Water Margin or wuxia genre, where characters 搠 each other with weapons.

Common words containing 搠 include: 搠倒 (shuò dào) — to push down or thrust down; 搠刺 (shuò cì) — to stab or thrust; 搠笔 (shuò bǐ) — to dip a brush in ink.