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拈

niān
verb #26,752

Meanings

  1. 1 to pick up (with fingers)
  2. 2 to nip
  3. 3 to grasp with the fingertips
  4. 4 to fiddle with

Examples

她拈起一颗花瓣，轻轻放进书中。
Tā niān qǐ yī kē huābàn, qīngqīng fàng jìn shū zhōng.
She picked up a petal between her fingers and gently placed it in the book.
他随手拈起一根筷子，开始敲打桌面。
Tā suíshǒu niān qǐ yī gēn kuàizi, kāishǐ qiāodǎ zhuōmiàn.
He casually picked up a chopstick and began tapping the table.

Tips

usage
拈 specifically implies picking something up with the thumb and one or two fingertips — a delicate, precise grip. It appears in idioms like 拈花惹草 (to flirt; to chase after women).

Stroke Order

拈 niān