Meaning
(a measure word); (marker for direct-object); to hold; to contain; to grasp; to take hold of
Chinese: 握住，也常作量词或介词。
Hear the Four Tones
The same syllable “ba” becomes a different word in each tone. 把 is the 3rd tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.
Stroke Order
Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.
Common Words
- 把握bǎ wòto grasp (also fig.); to seize; to hold; assurance
- 把手bǎ shǒuto shake hands
- 把戏bǎ xìacrobatics; jugglery; trick; ploy
- 把关bǎ guānto guard a pass; to check on sth
- 一把手yī bǎ shǒuworking hand; member of a work team; participant; the boss
Example Sentence
请把门关上。Qǐng bǎ mén guān shàng.Please close the door.
请Qǐngto ask把门bǎ ménto stand as a goalkeeper关上guān shàngto close (a door)。
Go deeper
Where this character comes from
The hand radical 扌 (meaning) plus 巴 (bā, sound): to take hold with the hand — ‘to grasp / hold’; also ‘a handle’.
A way to remember it
A hand (扌) + the sound 巴 — to hold.
Easy to confuse with
- 巴‘To cling / hope’: the right-hand sound part of 把, on its own.