verb HSK 5
to pull · to tear · to chat casually · to talk nonsense
Meaning
扯 is a versatile verb that primarily means to pull or tear something with force. In colloquial usage, it can also mean to chat idly or ramble on about something, often implying the conversation lacks substance or direction.
Usage
In formal contexts, 扯 typically means physical pulling or tearing. In casual conversation, 扯 often appears in phrases like 扯淡 (to talk nonsense) or 闲扯 (to chat idly). It can carry a slightly negative or dismissive tone when referring to speech, suggesting the content is unreliable or meaningless.
Examples
- 01别扯我的衣服，都快被你扯破了。, .Don't pull on my clothes, you're about to tear them.
- 02他总是喜欢扯些没用的事情。.He always likes to ramble on about useless things.
Common collocations
- 扯淡to talk nonsense
- 闲扯to chat idly
- 扯皮to wrangle, to bicker
- 扯后腿to hold someone back
Antonyms
Origin
The character 扯 combines the hand radical 扌 with 止 (foot/to stop), suggesting the action of pulling or stopping something by hand.