抠

• Pinyin: kōu
• Hanzi breakdown: 抠 = 扌(hand radical) + 区 (phonetic element)

Meaning

To dig out; to pick at; to scratch. As an adjective, stingy or miserly.

Describes using fingers to dig, pick, or scratch at something. Colloquially means being excessively frugal or unwilling to spend money. Also used for meticulously examining details.

Examples

1. 别抠鼻子，这样不雅观。 Don’t pick your nose—it’s not appropriate.
2. 他太抠了，从来不请客吃饭。 He’s so stingy—he never treats anyone to a meal.
3. 设计师在抠每一个细节。 The designer is obsessing over every detail.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, personality, detailed work

Tone: colloquial

Do Say

• 他抠门得连空调都舍不得开。(He is so stingy that he is reluctant to even turn on the air conditioner.)
• 工匠仔细抠着木雕上的花纹。(The craftsman carefully carved out the patterns on the woodwork.)

Don't Say

• 我很抠学习 — 抠 as stingy is for money; for studying diligently use 刻苦 or 认真

Origin & History

抠 = 扌(hand) + 区 (area, phonetic)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal