取 from HSK Level 2 Vocabulary List

The Chinese character 取 (qǔ) is composed of two parts: 扌(shǒu), which represents the hand, and 乞 (qǐ), which means "to beg" or "to ask for". Together, these two parts create the meaning of "to take" or "to obtain".The character 取 has a long history, dating back to the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600-1046 BC). In its earliest form, 取 was written as 乞, which was a pictograph of a hand reaching out to take something. Over time, the character evolved into its current form, which is a combination of 扌 and 乞.The character 取 has a wide range of meanings, including "to take", "to obtain", "to choose", "to select", and "to use". It can also be used as a verb or a noun. For example, the sentence "他取了一本书" means "He took a book", while the sentence "他的取舍很有道理" means "His choices are very reasonable".The character 取 is also used in many idioms and proverbs. For example, the idiom "取长补短" means "to learn from others' strengths and make up for one's own weaknesses", while the proverb "君子爱财，取之有道" means "A gentleman loves money, but he gets it in the right way".In conclusion, the character 取 is a versatile and important character in the Chinese language. It has a long history and a wide range of meanings, and it is used in many idioms and proverbs.