掊 (póu) · to scoop up with both hands

Meanings

1 to scoop up with both hands
2 to gather; to amass (wealth, by extortion)

Characters

掊

póu

to scoop up with both hands; amass

Examples

HSK 7-9

他掊起一捧土，露出埋着的鼎。

Tā póu qǐ yì pěng tǔ, lùchū mái zhe de dǐng.

He scooped up a double handful of earth and uncovered the buried tripod.

HSK 7-9

掊敛民财的贪吏受到斥责。

Póuliǎn mín cái de tān lì shòu dào chìzé.

Corrupt clerks who amass wealth by squeezing the people were condemned.

Tips

usage

Read 掊 for the literal 'scoop earth with both hands' sense and the figurative 掊克 / 掊敛 ('extort and hoard'). A different reading 掊 means 'to break apart'.

Components

radical

扌 shǒu

hand

Left side 扌 is the hand radical 手 in side form, fitting a verb of scooping or grasping with the hands.

phonetic

咅 pǒu

sound element

Right side 咅 is the phonetic, anchoring the póu / pǒu family of readings; the same element appears in 倍 and 部.

Stroke Order

掊 póu

Related Words

一掊土 yìpóutǔ

a handful of earth / a grave, a mound of burial dirt / by extension, a paltry amount

捧 pěng HSK 6 #8,521

to hold in both hands; to cup in one's palms / to praise; to flatter / measure word for what can be held in both hands

双手 shuāngshǒu #4,024

both hands / two hands

双方 shuāngfāng HSK 5 #4,549

both sides / both parties

两者 liǎngzhě #4,432

both / the two / both parties

端 duān HSK 6 #3,547

end; extremity; beginning / to hold something level with both hands; to carry / upright; proper

手上 shǒushàng #1,634

on one's hands / in one's hands / at hand

搂 lōu #9,299

to draw toward oneself; to gather up; to rake in / to gather up (one's gown or sleeves) / to grab (money); to extort

心灵手巧 xīnlíng-shǒuqiǎo HSK 7-9 #46,879

clever and deft / ingenious / skillful with both mind and hands

两手 liǎngshǒu HSK 7-9 #45,739

both hands / two-pronged (strategy); dual approach / a skill; a few tricks