拔

Etymology & Components

The Chinese character 拔 (bā) is composed of two parts: the radical 扌(shǒu), which indicates an action related to the hand, and the phonetic component 拔 (bá). The original meaning of 拔 is "to pull out", which can be extended to mean "to extract", "to select", "to promote", or "to rise".The character 拔 first appeared in oracle bone inscriptions, the earliest form of Chinese writing. In these inscriptions, 拔 was depicted as a hand holding a plant, representing the action of pulling something out of the ground. Over time, the character evolved into its current form, which is still used today.The character 拔 has a rich history and has been used in many different contexts. In ancient China, 拔 was often used in military contexts, referring to the act of pulling out an arrow or spear from a wound. It was also used in agricultural contexts, referring to the act of pulling out weeds or harvesting crops. In modern Chinese, 拔 is still used in these contexts, but it has also taken on new meanings. For example, 拔 can be used to refer to the act of selecting someone for a job or promotion, or to the act of rising to a higher position.The character 拔 is a versatile character with a rich history. It is a useful character to know for HSK learners, as it can be used in a variety of contexts.