攘 (rǎng) · to repel; to resist

Meanings

1 to repel; to resist
2 to seize; to grab
3 to be in turmoil

Characters

攘

rǎng

to repel; to seize

Examples

HSK 5

先安内，再攘外。

Xiān ān nèi, zài rǎng wài.

First settle things at home, then resist outside threats.

HSK 7-9

市场上熙熙攘攘，人多声杂。

Shìchǎng shàng xīxī-rǎngrǎng, rén duō shēng zá.

The market was bustling, the crowd thick and noisy.

Tips

usage

Modern learners meet 攘 mostly in 熙熙攘攘 (bustling with crowds) and the classical line 攘外 (to resist the outside). On its own it is literary.

Components

radical

扌 shǒu

hand

The left-side hand radical, the action form of 手. Pushing back, grabbing and stirring up turmoil are all done by hand, so this radical anchors the verb senses of 攘.

phonetic

襄 xiāng

to assist; to raise up

A large phonetic supplying the sound; xiāng shifted to rǎng. It contributes only the reading and groups 攘 with 壤, 嚷 and 让 (traditional 讓).

Stroke Order

攘 rǎng

Related Words

攘夷 rǎngyí

to repel the barbarians / to expel foreigners (classical / historical)

兵戈扰攘 bīnggē-rǎorǎng

weapons and turmoil / the chaos and disorder of war / war-torn times

熙熙攘攘 xīxīrǎngrǎng HSK 7-9 #31,120

bustling with activity / crowded and noisy

捉 zhuō HSK 6 #3,695

to catch; to grab; to seize / to capture (insects, animals, criminals)

抓住 zhuāzhù #706

to grab hold of; to seize firmly / to capture; to catch

抓 zhuā HSK 5 #407

to grab; to seize / to catch; to arrest / to scratch

揪 jiū HSK 7-9 #8,386

to grab; to seize / to pull; to tug

抵抗 dǐkàng HSK 6 #4,403

to resist; to withstand / resistance

风暴 fēngbào HSK 7-9 #4,058

storm; tempest / upheaval; turmoil (figurative)

抗 kàng #4,052

to resist / to fight / anti-