挠

• Pinyin: náo
• Hanzi breakdown: 挠 = 扌(hand) + 尧(phonetic — legendary emperor Yao) — a hand making a scraping/scratching gesture

Meaning

To scratch; to scrape with fingernails or claws; (figuratively) to puzzle over or be at a loss.

Primarily describes scratching with fingernails or claws. Extended in phrases like 挠头 (to scratch one's head in puzzlement). In classical usage, 挠 can also mean to bend or obstruct. Contrasts with 刮 (to scrape with a tool) and 划 (to cut/score).

Examples

1. 他被蚊子咬了好几个包，忍不住一直挠，结果越挠越痒。 He got bitten by mosquitoes in several spots and couldn’t stop scratching, but the more he scratched, the itchier it got.
2. 这道题让他挠了半天头，最终还是没有想出解答的办法。 This problem had him scratching his head for ages, and in the end he still couldn’t figure out a solution.
3. 小狗喜欢让人挠它的肚皮，一旦开始就会摇着尾巴不让停下来。 The puppy loves having its belly scratched—once you start, it wags its tail and won’t let you stop.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, physical sensation, colloquial expression

Tone: neutral/colloquial

Do Say

• 皮肤过敏的时候千万不要用力挠，越挠越严重，最好涂上止痒药膏。(When you have a skin allergy, never scratch hard — the more you scratch the worse it gets; it's best to apply anti-itch cream.)
• 他抓耳挠腮地想了很久，却始终找不到一个令自己满意的方案来解决这个难题。(He scratched his head and ears for a long time but couldn't come up with a solution that satisfied him.)

Don't Say

• 用'挠'描述用工具刮 — 挠 specifically refers to scratching with fingers or claws; for scraping with a tool, use 刮 or 划

Origin & History

扌(hand radical) + 尧(Yao, legendary emperor; used as phonetic component). The hand radical indicates the scratching motion.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal