把 Stroke Order — How to Write 把
把 is written in 7 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 扌, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
把 Radical and Character Components
把 is a phono-semantic compound: 扌 (hand) carries the meaning, while 巴 indicates the sound.
Radical: 扌 + 4 more strokes
把 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- bǎ
- bà
Meanings of 把 in Chinese
1
bǎ把
To hold, to grasp, to take.
他喜欢把玩各种精致的小物件。
He enjoys handling and admiring various exquisite small objects.
To control, to grasp, or to manage (a situation, progress, etc.).
我们需要把控好项目进度，确保按时完成。
We need to effectively manage the project's progress to ensure its timely completion.
To guard or watch over an entrance or gate.
他正在把门。
He is guarding the door.
The handle of a bicycle or similar vehicle, like a handlebar.
他握住自行车把。
He held onto the bicycle handlebars.
A small bundle or handful that can be held by hand.
妈妈从米袋里抓了一把米。
Mom scooped a handful of rice from the rice bag.
To monopolize power; to control everything exclusively.
他在公司里把持着重要的项目决策权。
He monopolizes important project decision-making power within the company.
To hold a child's legs from behind to help them urinate or defecate; to potty train a baby in this manner.
奶奶正在给小孙子把尿。
Grandma is holding her little grandson to pee.
A preposition indicating to take, handle, dispose of, or cause something to happen; often used to move the object before the verb.
你把这个故事讲得真好。
You told this story really well.
Measure word for objects with a handle, or for a handful/bundle of something.
我买了一把伞。
I bought an umbrella.
To form a sworn brotherhood or alliance; refers to 'bài bǎzi' (to become sworn brothers) or 'bǎ xiōngdì' (sworn brothers).
他们志同道合，常常把酒言欢，最终结成了把兄弟
They were like-minded, often drank and chatted happily, and eventually became sworn brothers.
2
bà把
The handle or grip of an object, the part designed for holding.
水壶的把儿断了，没法提了。
The handle of the kettle broke, so it's impossible to carry it.
A subject or object of ridicule, gossip, or lighthearted joking.
他笨手笨脚的样儿，成了大家的笑把儿
His clumsy manner became everyone's laughing stock.
Common Words and Phrases with 把
1
A handle; figuratively, a compromising fact, secret, or weakness that can be used as leverage or blackmail against someone.
他做错了事，结果被竞争对手抓住了把柄
He made a mistake, and his competitor found something to hold against him.
2
To monopolize power; to control or dominate something in an arbitrary and manipulative way.
他把持着整个项目的关键决策，不给其他人发表意见的机会
He monopolizes the key decision-making for the entire project, not giving others a chance to express their opinions.
3
To steer a ship; metaphorically, to be at the helm or to guide the overall direction.
船长牢牢地把着舵，带领船只驶过风暴
The captain held the helm firmly, guiding the ship through the storm.
4
To keep watch; to stand guard, especially to alert others of danger or an approaching person.
小明在墙上涂鸦，小红在旁边给他把风。
Xiao Ming was spray-painting graffiti on the wall, and Xiao Hong was acting as a lookout for him.
5
To guard a pass; to strictly check or control to ensure quality or prevent mistakes.
为了确保食品安全，工厂对每批产品都进行了严格的质量把关
To ensure food safety, the factory carried out strict quality control on every batch of products.
6
manage household affairs
奶奶虽然年事已高，但家里的大小事都是她在把家，从没出过差错。
Even though Grandma is quite old, she still manages all the family's affairs, big and small, and has never made a mistake.
7
to raise one's wineglass
好友相聚，把酒言欢，分享彼此的喜悦与烦恼。
Friends gathered, holding wine cups and chatting joyfully, sharing their happiness and worries with each other.
8
To monopolize; to take control of; to assume overall responsibility.
在团队项目中，他总是把揽所有的设计工作，不给其他人参与的机会。
In team projects, he always takes sole charge of all the design work, not giving others a chance to participate.
9
dependable; reliable (often used in negative constructions)
这把椅子看起来不怎么把牢，坐上去要小心些。
This chair doesn't look very steady, be careful when sitting on it.
10
To feel someone's pulse, especially in traditional Chinese medicine for diagnosis.
老中医为病人仔细地把脉，判断他的身体状况。
The old traditional Chinese doctor carefully took the patient's pulse to assess his physical condition.
11
To guard an entrance or act as a doorman; also, to keep goal in sports.
他负责把门，确保没有人未经允许进入
He is in charge of guarding the door, ensuring no one enters without permission.
12
Martial arts techniques or skill; also, an expert or master in a particular trade.
他从小就学厨艺，现在做饭可真是个把式
He learned cooking from a young age, and now he's truly a master chef.
13
to guard; to defend; to keep watch over
保安把守着博物馆的入口。
The security guard was guarding the entrance of the museum.
14
A handle, grip, or knob on an object.
老师问谁知道答案，小明把手了
The teacher asked who knew the answer, and Xiao Ming raised his hand.
15
A historical term for a gangmaster or foreman who exploited workers, often in industries like transport.
那个码头的把头对装卸工人非常苛刻，常常克扣他们的工钱。
The labor contractor at that dock was very harsh on the stevedores, often deducting their wages.
More words with 把
- chē车bǎ把handlebars
- fān翻bǎ把barspin
- gè个bǎ把one or two; a couple of
- huǒ火bǎ把a torch
- sào扫bǎ把A tool used for sweeping; a broom.
- shā刹bǎ把Brake lever
- tuō拖bǎ把mop
- mén门bà把door handle, doorknob
- chē车bǎ把shì式carter, wagon driver
- guǐ鬼bǎ把xì戏Trick, Dirty trick
- shuǎ耍bǎ把xì戏To juggle or perform tricks.
- wú无bǎ把wò握Uncertain, No certainty
- xiǎo小bǎ把xì戏a child; a kid
- yī一bǎ把zhuā抓Handle everything at once, Lump everything together
- dà大bǎ把A lot, Plenty
- dǎo倒bǎ把profiteering, speculate
- dì第èr二bǎ把shǒu手Second-in-command, Right-hand man
- dǎ打bǎ把shì势practice martial arts, perform stunts
- èr二bǎ把shǒu手second-in-command, deputy
- huā花bǎ把shì势An experienced florist or gardener.
Idioms with 把
- bǎ把chí持bù不dìng定to be indecisive
- bǎ把chí持bù不zhù住unable to control oneself
- bǎ把fàn饭jiào叫jī饥take an unneeded action
- bǎ把wán玩wú无yàn厌play with and admire without tiring
- bài拜bǎ把xiōng兄dì弟sworn brothers
- dà大lāo捞yī一bǎ把make a big killing
- fēn分bīng兵bǎ把shǒu守divide forces to guard strategic points
- ná拿yìn印bà把zi子hold real power or authority
- niē捏yī一bǎ把hàn汗feel extremely nervous or worried
- tóu投jī机dǎo倒bǎ把speculate and profiteer
- yī一bǎ把sǐ死ná拿stubbornly cling to old ways
- bǎ把bì臂xú徐qù去link arms and slowly depart
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Open the tool →Questions about 把
What does 把 mean in Chinese?
把 (bǎ) means “To hold, to grasp, to take” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 把?
把 has 2 pronunciations: bǎ, bà.
How many strokes does 把 have?
把 has 7 strokes.
How do you write 把?
把 is written in 7 strokes, starting from the radical 扌. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 把?
The radical of 把 is 扌, and 把 is a phono-semantic compound.