How to Write 揎 (xuān) — Meaning “To roll up (sleeves)”

Imagine your hand (扌) is needed to "roll up" a curtain that says "宣" (a public announcement). The act of rolling up the curtain reveals the message, just like rolling up your sleeves reveals your arms.

The left radical 扌 should be narrow and tall, with the horizontal stroke slightly rising. The right side 宣 has a dot on top, and the bottom part 冝 should be balanced — be careful not to make the last stroke too short.

揎 specifically means to roll up sleeves or bare fists. 挨 means to endure or lean on someone, while 挫 means to defeat or frustrate. Visually, 挨 has the radical 扌 with 矣, and 挫 has 扌 with 坐 — all different right parts.

揎 is mostly used in literary or martial arts contexts, such as 揎袖 (rolling up sleeves) or 揎拳 (baring fists ready to fight). It is not common in everyday conversation but appears in idioms or classical descriptions of action.

Common words containing 揎 include: 揎袖 (xuān xiù) — To roll up one's sleeves; 揎拳 (xuān quán) — To bare one's fists (ready for a fight); 揎起 (xuān qǐ) — To roll up or pull up.