qiā

掐

HSK 7-9Character · Verb · Measure word (derogatory)

pinch; nip; cut off; hold tightly; small quantity

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

3 senses · 15 examples
1.

verb

press with nail; pinch; nip; snip off

neutral

Can be used for relieving itching, trimming plants, or removing unwanted parts. Often used in daily conversations.

Wǒ我
qiā掐
le了
liǎng两
xià下
wàn手
zhǒu腕
zhǐ止
yǎng痒
 。

I pinched my wrist twice to stop the itching.

Qǐng请
bù不
yào要
suí随
biàn便
qiā掐
gōng公
yuán园
lǐ里
de的
huā花
duǒ朵
 。

Please don't randomly pick or pinch the flowers in the park.

Show 3 more examples
Zuò做
fàn饭
qián前
jì记
de得
bǎ把
dòu豆
yá芽
de的
xū须
zi子
qiā掐
diào掉
 。

Remember to snip off the roots of the bean sprouts before cooking.

Tā她
qiā掐
le了
yī一
piàn片
bò薄
hé荷
yè叶
fàng放
jìn进
chá茶
lǐ里
 。

She pinched a mint leaf and put it into her tea.

Bié别
qiā掐
wǒ我
de的
gē胳
bo膊
 ,
wǒ我
téng疼
 !

Stop pinching my arm, it hurts!

2.

verb

grip tightly with虎口

neutral

Describes grabbing something firmly with the thumb and index finger (or the whole hand's tiger's mouth).

Tā他
yī一
bǎ把
qiā掐
zhù住
le了
xiǎo小
tōu偷
de的
wàn手
zhù腕
 。

He firmly grabbed the thief's wrist with his tiger's mouth.

Mā妈
ma妈
qiā掐
zhù住
māo猫
de的
hòu后
jǐng颈
bǎ把
tā它
bào抱
le了
qǐ起
lái来
 。

Mom gripped the back of the cat's neck and picked it up.

Show 3 more examples
Tā他
qiā掐
zhù住
wǒ我
de的
yī衣
lǐng领
bù不
fàng放
 。

He gripped my collar and wouldn't let go.

Bǎo保
ān安
yī一
bǎ把
qiā掐
zhù住
le了
shì试
tú图
chōng冲
zhá闸
de的
rén人
 。

The security guard grabbed tightly the person trying to rush through the gate.

Tā他
qiā掐
zhù住
le了
wǒ我
de的
bó脖
zi子
 ,
ràng让
wǒ我
chuǎn喘
bù不
guò过
qì气
 。

He choked my neck, making it hard for me to breathe.

3.

measure word (derogatory)

small handful; pinch

dialect, informal

Used only in spoken dialect, usually followed by the suffix 儿. Refers to a small quantity held between thumb and one other finger.

Mā妈
ma妈
mǎi买
le了
yī一
qiā掐
ér儿
jiǔ韭
cài菜
huí回
jiā家
bāo包
jiǎo饺
zi子
 。

Mom bought a small handful of leeks to make dumplings at home.

Tā他
zhuā抓
le了
yī一
qiā掐
ér儿
yán盐
fàng放
jìn进
tāng汤
lǐ里
 。

He tossed a pinch of salt into the soup.

Show 3 more examples
Nǎi奶
nai奶
gěi给
le了
wǒ我
yī一
qiā掐
ér儿
xīn新
xiān鲜
de的
xiāng香
cài菜
 。

Grandma gave me a small handful of fresh cilantro.

Zhǐ只
xū需
yào要
yī一
qiā掐
ér儿
suàn蒜
mò末
jiù就
gòu够
le了
 。

Just a small pinch of minced garlic is enough.

Cài菜
fàn贩
chēng称
le了
yī一
qiā掐
ér儿
bō菠
cài菜
gěi给
wǒ我
 。

The vegetable vendor sold me a small handful of spinach.