拐

• Pinyin: guǎi
• Hanzi breakdown: 拐 = 扌 (hand) + 另 (other), meaning to change direction or take away

Meaning

To turn (direction); to limp; to abduct. Changing direction or deceptively taking someone.

Has distinct meanings: (1) To turn or change direction: 拐弯 (turn a corner), 往左拐 (turn left); (2) To limp or hobble: 走路一拐一拐 (walk with a limp); (3) To abduct or kidnap: 拐卖 (abduct and sell, human trafficking), 拐骗 (deceive and abduct). As a noun, 拐杖 means cane or walking stick.

Examples

1. 前面路口往右拐，再走五分钟就到了。 Turn right at the intersection ahead, then walk another five minutes and you'll be there.
2. 他腿受伤后走路一直有点拐，恢复得不太好。 After his leg injury, his walk has always had a bit of a limp — it hasn't healed well.
3. 警方破获了一个专门拐卖儿童的犯罪团伙。 The police cracked a criminal gang that specialized in child trafficking.

Usage Guide

Context: directions, crime, mobility

Tone: varies

Do Say

• 在前面红绿灯拐弯。(Turn at the traffic light ahead.)
• 拐卖儿童是严重的犯罪。(Child trafficking is a serious crime.)

Don't Say

• 混淆拐和弯 (Don't confuse 拐 with 弯 alone — 拐弯 means to turn, while 弯 alone means curved or bent)

Origin & History

The character 拐 combines 扌 (hand radical) with 另 (other, different). Originally meant to hold something while changing direction, then extended to mean turning or taking someone away deceptively.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal