取

• Pinyin: qǔ
• Hanzi breakdown: 取 = 耳 (ear) + 又 (hand), originally depicting seizing an ear

Meaning

To take; to get; to fetch; to pick up. Used for retrieving or collecting something.

A practical verb for collecting or retrieving items. Common in everyday situations: 取钱 (withdraw money), 取快递 (pick up a delivery), 取药 (collect medicine). Also used in compound words like 取消 (cancel), 取得 (obtain/achieve), and 采取 (adopt/take measures).

Examples

1. 我去银行取钱。 I'm going to the bank to withdraw money.
2. 请到前台取你的快递。 Please go to the front desk to pick up your delivery.
3. 他去邮局取了一个包裹。 He went to the post office and collected a parcel.

Usage Guide

Context: banking, deliveries, everyday errands

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我要去取点钱。(I need to withdraw some money.)
• 你的快递到了，去取一下吧。(Your delivery has arrived — go pick it up.)

Don't Say

• 不要用取来代替拿 (取 implies retrieving from somewhere specific — for simply picking up an object in front of you, use 拿; say 拿起杯子 not 取起杯子)

Origin & History

Originally depicted a hand (又) reaching for an ear (耳) — in ancient warfare, soldiers collected enemy ears as proof of victory. The meaning has generalised to simply 'take' or 'get.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal