Meaning
搂 means to hold someone or something close with your arms, typically in an affectionate or protective way. It describes the physical action of embracing, whether it's hugging a person, holding a child, or gathering things into your arms. The character contains the hand radical (扌), indicating it's an action performed with the hands or arms.
Usage
搂 is commonly used in everyday speech for physical embraces between family members, romantic partners, or close friends. It's more informal than 拥抱 (yōngbào), which is the more formal word for 'embrace.' Often appears in phrases like 搂着 (lǒu zhe, holding) or 搂住 (lǒu zhù, to hold tight). Can also be used when gathering or scooping things into one's arms.
Examples
- 01她紧紧地搂着孩子，不让他走。, .She held the child tightly in her arms, not letting him go.
- 02他搂着女朋友的肩膀走在街上。.He walked down the street with his arm around his girlfriend's shoulder.
Common collocations
- 搂着holding (someone) in one's arms
- 搂住to hold tightly
- 搂在怀里to hold in one's embrace
- 搂腰to put one's arm around someone's waist
Antonyms
Origin
The traditional form 摟 combines the hand radical 扌(hand) with 婁 (lóu), which serves as a phonetic component. The hand radical indicates this is an action performed with the arms.