náo

挠

HSK 7-9Character · VerbTraditional撓

scratch; hinder; yield

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

3 senses · 15 examples
1.

verb

to scratch lightly; to tickle

Used for relieving itching or making a playful scratching motion.

Hòu后
bèi背
yǎng痒
 ,
bāng帮
wǒ我
náo挠
yī一
xià下
hǎo好
ma吗
 ?

My back is itchy, could you help me scratch it?

Tā他
jǐn紧
zhāng张
de得
zhuā抓
ěr耳
náo挠
sāi腮
 ,
bù不
zhī知
dào道
gāi该
zěn怎
me么
huí回
dá答
 。

He scratched his ears and twisted his hands nervously, not knowing how to answer.

Show 3 more examples
Xiǎo小
māo猫
zhèng正
náo挠
zhe着
zì自
jǐ己
de的
ěr耳
duǒ朵
wán玩
shuǎ耍
 。

The kitten is scratching its ear while playing.

Lǎo老
rén人
rěn忍
bù不
zhù住
náo挠
le了
náo挠
gē胳
bo膊
shàng上
de的
yǎng痒
chù处
 。

The old man couldn't help scratching the itchy spot on his arm.

Bǎo宝
bǎo宝
xǐ喜
huan欢
ràng让
dà大
rén人
náo挠
yǎng痒
yang痒
dòu逗
lè乐
 。

The baby likes being tickled by adults for fun.

2.

verb

to hinder; to obstruct; to thwart

formal

Formal and neutral, often used in formal contexts or written language.

Duì对
fāng方
shì试
tú图
zǔ阻
náo挠
wǒ我
men们
de的
hé合
zuò作
jì计
huà划
 。

The other party tried to obstruct our cooperation plan.

Rèn任
hé何
shì势
lì力
dōu都
bù不
néng能
zǔ阻
náo挠
lì历
shǐ史
de的
qián前
jìn进
 。

No force can hinder the progress of history.

Show 3 more examples
Fǎn反
duì对
pài派
zǔ阻
náo挠
le了
zhè这
xiàng项
fǎ法
àn案
de的
tōng通
guò过
 。

The opposition blocked the passage of this bill.

È恶
liè劣
tiān天
qì气
méi没
yǒu有
zǔ阻
náo挠
wǒ我
men们
de的
chū出
xíng行
jì计
huà划
 。

The bad weather did not thwart our travel plans.

Méi媒
tǐ体
de的
zǔ阻
náo挠
ràng让
diào调
chá查
gōng工
zuò作
xiàn陷
rù入
tíng停
zhì滞
 。

Media obstruction brought the investigation work to a standstill.

3.

verb

to yield; to submit; to bend

literary

Used in fixed idiomatic phrases to describe unyielding spirit.

Miàn面
duì对
qiáng强
quán权
 ,
tā他
shǐ始
zhōng终
bù不
qū屈
bù不
náo挠
 。

Facing powerful authority, he remained unyielding all along.

Gé革
mìng命
xiān先
liè烈
bǎi百
zhé折
bù不
náo挠
 ,
zhōng终
yú于
yíng赢
dé得
le了
shèng胜
lì利
 。

The revolutionary martyrs were indomitable and finally won victory.

Show 3 more examples
Wú无
lùn论
yù遇
dào到
duō多
shǎo少
kùn困
nán难
 ,
wǒ我
men们
dōu都
bù不
néng能
náo挠
qū曲
zì自
jǐ己
de的
xìn信
niàn念
 。

No matter how many difficulties we face, we must not bend our beliefs.

Zhè这
wèi位
kē科
xué学
jiā家
yǒu有
zhe着
bǎi百
zhé折
bù不
náo挠
de的
tàn探
suǒ索
jīng精
shén神
 。

This scientist has an indomitable spirit of exploration.

Miàn面
duì对
cuò挫
zhé折
 ,
tā他
biǎo表
xiàn现
chū出
le了
bù不
qū屈
bù不
náo挠
de的
pǐn品
gé格
 。

Facing setbacks, he showed an unyielding character.