抱
Character learning workspace

bào · to embrace, to hold in one's arms

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 2.0 · Level 4HSK 3.0 · Level 4Frequency #1238
Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 抱

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

Interactive stroke trainerWatch and inspect
Checking daily allowance…Please waitGo unlimited
Loading strokes…
0 strokes
Choose Watch order or Practice writing
Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Step-by-step explorer

See how 抱 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

Loading stroke diagrams…

Character anatomy

Understand the reusable parts

The decomposition shows how the visual pieces fit together, not necessarily the character’s historical origin.

Writing notes

Shape and proportion

8Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Left-rightCharacter structure

Keep the left side compact and leave enough room for the right side.

扌Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 抱 writing sheet

Get a ready-to-use A4 sheet immediately, or open the full builder to change its grid and guidance.

Preparing worksheet…
Customize

Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 抱

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

bàoWords pronounced bào
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 抱 sits in each complete thought.

Wǒ hěn bào qiàn , dàn tā shì bù kě néng de.我很抱歉, 但它是不可能的。

I'm sorry, but it's impossible.

Source: Tatoeba #793330 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ bù xiǎng zài tīng nǐ bào yuàn le.我不想再听你抱怨了。

I don't want to hear any more of your complaining.

Source: Tatoeba #396369 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā men zhōng yǒu yí gè rén xiǎng yào yōng bào nǐ.他们中有一个人想要拥抱你。

Someone among them wants to hug you.

Source: Tatoeba #2091845 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ xiǎng yào gè bào bào.我想要个抱抱。

I want a hug.

Source: Tatoeba #10006480 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ hěn bào qiàn , dàn tā jiù shì bù kě néng de.我很抱歉, 但它就是不可能的。

I'm sorry, but it's just not possible.

Source: Tatoeba #778506 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ hěn bào qiàn wǒ méi yǒu dǎ diàn huà.我很抱歉我没有打电话。

I'm sorry I didn't call.

Source: Tatoeba #5556044 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 抱 in context

  1. Say bào, then recall the core meaning: to embrace, to hold in one's arms.
  2. Write all 8 strokes while keeping the left-right balanced.
  3. Use it in 抱歉 (bào qiàn), meaning “to be sorry”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 抱 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.