Meaning
拓 primarily means to expand, extend, or open up new territory or possibilities. It commonly appears in compound words related to expansion and development. The character also has a secondary, more specialized meaning of making a rubbing or impression from an inscribed surface, though this usage is less common in everyday speech.
Usage
拓 is most frequently used in formal or business contexts, especially in compounds like 开拓 (to open up/pioneer) and 拓展 (to expand/develop). It suggests proactive expansion into new areas, whether physical territories, markets, or fields of knowledge. Rarely used alone in spoken Mandarin.
Examples
- 01公司正在努力开拓海外市场。.The company is working hard to open up overseas markets.
- 02我们需要拓展新的业务领域。.We need to expand into new business areas.
Common collocations
- 开拓市场to open up markets
- 拓展业务to expand business
- 开拓创新to pioneer and innovate
- 拓宽视野to broaden one's horizons
Antonyms
Origin
The character combines the hand radical 扌with 石 (stone), originally referring to making stone rubbings. The meaning extended metaphorically to opening up or expanding new ground.