to hold; to hug; to carry in arms
HSK level
抱 is written with 8 strokes. The animation replays automatically.
抱 (bào) is a verb meaning to hold, carry, or wrap something in your arms — hugging a person, cradling a baby, or clutching a stack of books against your chest.
The physical sense is 'to encircle with the arms,' which is why it also means 'to embrace / hug.' English separates 'hold in arms,' 'carry,' and 'hug'; 抱 covers all three because the common thread is the arm-wrapping motion.
Beyond the physical, 抱 extends to abstract 'holding' in fixed expressions: 抱希望 (to harbor hope), 抱怨 (to hold a grievance = to complain), 抱歉 (to hold apology = to be sorry). Carrying a child on your back is instead 背 (bēi), and carrying by the hand hanging down is 提 (tí); 抱 is specifically the in-the-arms hold.
Note: Neutral and everyday. In abstract set phrases like 抱希望 (to hold hopes) or 抱怨 (to complain), it becomes more written/idiomatic.
妈妈抱着孩子睡觉。
Māma bào zhe háizi shuìjiào.
The mother is sleeping while holding the child.
neutral
见面的时候我们抱了一下。
Jiànmiàn de shíhou wǒmen bào le yíxià.
When we met, we gave each other a hug.
spoken
他抱着一大堆书走进教室。
Tā bào zhe yí dà duī shū zǒu jìn jiàoshì.
He walked into the classroom carrying a big pile of books.
neutral
我们对未来还抱着希望。
Wǒmen duì wèilái hái bào zhe xīwàng.
We still hold out hope for the future.
written
拥抱 is the two-way hug between people (an embrace). 抱 is more general — it covers hugging, but also carrying a baby or clutching objects. Use 拥抱 specifically for the mutual embrace of greeting or affection.
搂 means to hold loosely with one arm, to draw someone toward you sideways (搂着肩膀). 抱 is a fuller, both-arms wrap. 搂 is looser and often affectionate/casual.
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