拍

• Pinyin: pāi
• Hanzi breakdown: 拍 = 扌(hand) + 白 (white, phonetic), a hand striking or clapping

Meaning

To clap; to pat; to take a photo. A common action verb with several related physical meanings.

The core meaning involves striking with a flat hand or surface. Extended to photography: 拍照 (take a photo), 拍电影 (shoot a film). Also used for clapping (拍手), patting (拍肩膀 = pat on the shoulder), and swatting (拍蚊子 = swat a mosquito). Very versatile in everyday speech.

Examples

1. 我们一起拍张照吧！ Let's take a photo together!
2. 妈妈轻轻地拍了拍孩子的背。 Mum gently patted the child on the back.
3. 观众们热情地拍手欢迎。 The audience clapped enthusiastically in welcome.

Usage Guide

Context: photography, daily life, gestures

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 帮我拍一张照片吧。(Take a photo for me, please.)
• 别拍桌子，太吵了。(Stop hitting the table — it's too loud.)

Don't Say

• 我拍了一个电话。(Don't use 拍 for making phone calls — 拍 involves physical contact or photography. Say 我打了一个电话.)

Origin & History

Originally composed of 扌(hand) + 白 (white, phonetic), depicting a hand striking something. The hand radical makes the physical action clear.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal