How to Write 抓 (zhuā) — Meaning “Grab / Scratch”

Imagine your hand (扌) turning into a claw (爪) to grab something quickly. The right side 爪 looks like an animal paw with three claws reaching out to catch. This visual of a hand becoming a claw helps you recall both the shape and meaning.

Start with the left radical 扌: first the horizontal stroke, then the vertical hook, then the short upward flick. Then write the right side 爪: note that it has a left-falling stroke (丿) first, then two short strokes, and finally a right-falling stroke (捺). A common mistake is to confuse the right side with "瓜" (melon) — remember that 爪 has a downward pointing claw shape, not a curved hook.

抓 means "to grab, scratch" using a hand with claws, while 㧜 (rare, used in some dialects) means "to scoop up" or "to hold in both hands" and has a different right component. 扑 (pū) means "to rush at" or "to pat" and uses the radical 扌 with 卜 (divination), so it implies a quick slapping or pouncing motion rather than grasping.

抓 is very common for physical actions like "抓住" (catch hold of) and "抓紧" (grasp firmly or make the most of time). In everyday Chinese, you also hear "抓拍" (take a snapshot) for quickly capturing a photo. Culturally, "抓住机会" (seize the opportunity) is a frequent phrase, reflecting the idea of not letting a good chance slip away.

Common words containing 抓 include: 抓住 (zhuā zhù) — Catch / Grasp; 抓紧 (zhuā jǐn) — Grasp firmly / Make the most of; 抓拍 (zhuā pāi) — Take a snapshot / Capture a quick photo.