Usage and Meanings
The verb 掐 (qiā) primarily means "to pinch" or "to pick" something small, such as flowers or leaves. It often implies using fingers to grasp and pull off a part of a plant or to pinch skin.
Common Contexts
- Picking flowers or leaves: 掐花 (qiā huā) means to pick flowers carefully by hand.
- Pinching skin: Used when children or people pinch cheeks or skin, often playfully or to express affection.
- Managing time precisely: In a more figurative sense, 掐 can describe carefully controlling or measuring time, as in 掐时间 (qiā shíjiān), meaning to be punctual or to time something exactly.
Collocations and Patterns
Notes
掐 is often used in informal contexts and can carry a playful or affectionate tone when referring to pinching skin. When used with time, it emphasizes precision and punctuality. Avoid confusing 掐 with 摘 (zhāi), which also means "to pick" but is more general and often used for fruits or crops rather than pinching small parts delicately.