擒
How to Say
How to Write
Meaning: to capture
💡 Imagine a hand (扌) grabbing a bird (禽) — that's 擒, to capture.
Compounds
Character Story & Explanation
This character, 擒 (qín), combines the hand radical 扌 with 禽 (qín, bird/animal), suggesting the action of physically seizing prey. In ancient China, hunting was a vital skill, and 擒 evokes that primal moment of capture. Today, it appears in martial contexts (e.g., 擒拿, grappling) and idioms, retaining its forceful, direct meaning.
Example Sentences
Common Compounds
Similar Characters — Don't Mix These Up
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