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

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.

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 yīpóutǔ

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

双手 shuāngshǒu HSK 5 #4,024

both hands / two hands

双方 shuāngfāng HSK 3 #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

捧 pěng HSK 7-9 #8,521

to hold in both hands; to cup in one's palms / to praise; to flatter

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 6 #45,739

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