搂

• Pinyin: lǒu
• Hanzi breakdown: 搂 = 扌(hand) + 娄 (gather/draw together)

Meaning

To hug; to hold in one's arms; to embrace. Typically implies a close, affectionate hold around the shoulders or body.

Suggests physical closeness and warmth, commonly used between family members, close friends, or romantic partners. More informal and emotionally close than 抱 (bào), implying a sideways or loose embrace rather than a full formal hug.

Examples

1. 母亲把孩子紧紧搂在怀里，低声安慰他不要哭泣。 The mother held her child tightly in her arms, softly comforting him and telling him not to cry.
2. 两个多年未见的老友在火车站相遇，激动地互相搂了一下。 Two old friends who hadn’t seen each other in years ran into each other at the train station and, thrilled, gave each other a quick hug.
3. 他把女友搂到身边，在她耳边轻声说了一句只有两人知道的话。 He pulled his girlfriend close and whispered something in her ear that only the two of them knew.

Usage Guide

Context: family, relationships, daily life

Tone: warm

Do Say

• 她轻轻搂住老人的肩膀，陪他在夕阳下散步，场面令人动容。(She gently put her arm around the elderly person's shoulders and walked with him at sunset — a deeply moving scene.)
• 孩子一看到爸爸回来就冲过去，搂住他的腰不肯放开。(The moment the child saw his father come home, he ran over and hugged him around the waist, refusing to let go.)

Don't Say

• 在正式或公务场合用搂 — 搂 is an informal, affectionate gesture; in professional or public contexts use 握手 (handshake) or simply 欢迎 without physical contact

Origin & History

搂 — combines 扌(hand radical) with 娄, suggesting using hands to gather or draw close

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal