取 (qǔ) · to take, to get, to fetch

Meanings

1 to take
2 to get
3 to fetch

Characters

取

qǔ

take; get; fetch

Combines 耳 (ear) + 又 (hand) - originally meant to take an enemy's ear as proof of victory.

Examples

HSK 1

请取一个号。

Qǐng qǔ yī gè hào.

Please take a number.

HSK 3

我去银行取钱。

Wǒ qù yínháng qǔ qián.

I'm going to the bank to withdraw money.

HSK 4

快递到了，去取吧。

Kuàidì dào le, qù qǔ ba.

The delivery has arrived, go pick it up.

Tips

usage

Common compounds: 取钱 (withdraw money), 取名 (give a name), 取消 (cancel).

Components

radical

又 yòu

right hand

Hand radical on the right - the indexing semantic. 又 is a stylised right hand reaching out. In 取 it does the literal taking, grasping the ear (耳). The hand+ear pictograph is the cleanest possible 'take-by-grabbing' image, and the 又 radical files 取 with other action-by-hand verbs like 收, 受, 友.

semantic

耳 ěr

ear

Ear on the left - pictures the human ear. The graph has a grim origin: ancient warriors took the left ears of slain enemies as proof of kills, and 取 was the verb for that act. The meaning broadened from 'cut off the ear' to 'seize, take, fetch' (取得 obtain, 录取 admit).