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HSK 4

抱

to hold; to hug; to carry in arms

verbneutral1 episode
抱
bào4th tone

HSK level

1
2
3
4
5
6
Pinyin
bào
Part of speech
verb
Level
HSK 4
Strokes
8
Register
neutral
In episodes
1

Stroke order for 抱

抱 is written with 8 strokes. The animation replays automatically.

What does 抱 mean?

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.

Hear 抱 in real episodes

抱 appears in 1 Fluentide podcast episode at natural native speed — each with the full Chinese script, pinyin, and line-by-line English translation.

A Magnitude 7.4 Quake Flattened Western Colombia. Under the Rubble, a Trapped Man Said: 'I'm With a Baby.'抱 spoken at natural speedeasy
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Example sentences

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

Common phrases with 抱

抱孩子bào háizito hold a child
抱一下bào yíxiàto give a hug
拥抱yōngbàoto embrace
抱希望bào xīwàngto hold out hope
抱在怀里bào zài huái lǐto hold in one's arms

Synonyms

拥抱yōngbào

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lǒu

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.

Don't confuse 抱 with

报bào

报 (same sound, no hand radical) means 'to report / newspaper / to repay.' 抱 has the 扌 hand radical and means to hold in the arms. 抱歉 (sorry) vs 报名 (to sign up) are a common mix-up.

背bēi

背 means to carry on the back. 抱 is to carry in front, in the arms. You 抱 a baby facing you but 背 a backpack.

FAQ

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