合抱

hébào

verb

Meanings

1 to wrap one's arms around (a tree trunk etc.)
2 (of a tree) so thick it takes both arms to embrace

Characters

to join / together

to embrace / hold

Examples

院子里有一棵合抱的老槐树。

Yuànzi lǐ yǒu yī kē hébào de lǎo huáishù.

There is an old scholar tree in the courtyard so thick it takes both arms to embrace.

两人合抱才能围住这根柱子。

Liǎng rén hébào cáinéng wéi zhù zhè gēn zhùzi.

It takes two people with arms joined to encircle this pillar.

Tips

culture

Often used to describe ancient trees: 合抱之木 ('a tree of full embrace') famously appears in Laozi's 道德经 — 合抱之木，生于毫末 ('a tree as wide as a man's embrace grows from a tiny sprout').

Stroke Order

合 hé

抱 bào