Meaning
拍 is a versatile verb meaning to strike or hit with the palm of the hand, commonly used for patting, clapping, or taking photographs. As a noun, it can refer to a beat in music or a racket used in sports. The character combines the hand radical (扌) with 白 (white), originally suggesting the action of striking with an open palm.
Usage
拍 is extremely common in everyday speech. Chinese speakers frequently use it for taking photos (拍照 pāizhào), shooting videos (拍视频), clapping hands (拍手), or patting someone on the shoulder. In sports contexts, it refers to rackets (网球拍). The measure word usage counts beats in music.
Examples
- 01我们在长城拍了很多照片。.We took many photos at the Great Wall.
- 02他轻轻地拍了拍我的肩膀，让我不要紧张。, .He gently patted my shoulder, telling me not to be nervous.
Measure words
- 个一个网球拍
- 张拍了三张照片
Common collocations
- 拍照to take a photo
- 拍手to clap hands
- 拍电影to shoot a film
- 拍肩膀to pat on the shoulder
Origin
The character consists of the hand radical 扌(hand) and 白 (white/bright), suggesting the action of an open palm striking something, creating a visible or audible effect.