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抱

embrace
Stroke count: 8

Readings

On readingホウ
Kun readingだ.く、いだ.く、かか.える
JLPT level: N3JōyōGrade 8

Meanings

  1. embraceRtK
  2. hold in arms
  3. hug
  1. to hold in one's arms (e.g. a baby)
  2. to embrace
  3. to hug
  4. to have (a thought or feeling)
  5. to hold

Popular Usage

抱く抱える介抱

Radicals and components

Radical手hand扌variant
Components
How it's built
抱
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Mnemonic (RtK)

ⓘ

finger · fingers · wrap · bound up (乙) · snake (乙) · self (自)

From "Remembering the Kanji" by James Heisig · Frame 697

Compound words

抱くいだく
to hold in one's arms (e.g. a baby); to embrace; to hug; to have (a thought or feeling); to hold
抱えるかかえる
to hold in one's arms; to carry in one's arms; to carry under one's arm; to hold (one's head) in one's hands; to have (problems, debts, etc.)
辛抱しんぼう
patience; endurance; perseverance
抱えかかえ
armful; employee
抱負ほうふ
aspiration; ambition; plan; hopes; wishes
抱擁ほうよう
embrace; hug; holding in one's arms
抱っこだっこ
carrying in one's arms (a baby, pet, doll, etc.); holding; up!; carry me
抱き合うだきあう
to embrace each other
合抱ごうほう
armful
一抱えひとかかえ
armful
横抱きよこだき
carrying (an infant, etc.) horizontally in one's arms
抱き身だきみ
breast meat (poultry)
ひと抱えひとかかえ
armful
召し抱えめしかかえ
mercenary troops
召抱えるめしかかえる
to employ (as a retainer)
抱え込むかかえこむ
召し抱えるめしかかえる
to employ (as a retainer)
新年の抱負しんねんのほうふ
New Year's resolution
抱き竦めるだきすくめる
to hug tight
抱っこマンだっこマン
baby who wants to be carried
抱きしめるだきしめる
抱っこするだっこする
to carry
おんぶに抱っこおんぶにだっこ
relying completely on others
少年よ、大志を抱けしょうねんよ、たいしをいだけ
boys, be ambitious

Additional Examples

彼は包みを小脇に抱えていた。
He held a package under his arm.tatoeba
彼は彼女を抱きすくめた。
He suddenly tightened his arm around her.tatoeba
彼は彼女をしっかりと抱いた。
He held her tightly.tatoeba
彼は彼女の恵まれた才能にあこがれを抱いた。
He longed for her talented skills.tatoeba
また玉鬘に戯れる父の姿に不審を抱くのであった。
He also sees his father flirting with Tamakazura and grows suspicious.wiki
中の君に親しく近付く薫に、匂宮は警戒の念を抱く。
Nioumiya was suspicious of Kaoru who was getting closer to Naka no miya.wiki
日本のタクシーが抱える問題点
Problems of taxis in Japanwiki
また、保護のための放鳥も困難な問題を抱える。
Hocho for species preservation is also faced with difficult problems.wiki

Stroke Order

8 strokes

Practice Writing

Practice Writing 抱

Draw with a guide, then from memory — checked at every step