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

HSK 7-9

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.

HSK 7-9

两人合抱才能围住这根柱子。

Liǎng rén hébào cáinéng wéizhù 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. The line 合抱之木，生于毫末 means 'a tree as wide as a man's embrace grows from a tiny sprout.'

Stroke Order

合 hé

抱 bào