拿
ná/nä³⁵/
The English phrase 'hold' can be translated into Chinese using 拿 (ná). Wiktionary also lists 持 (chí) and 把 (bǎ).
Meaning: to grasp (verb)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 拿 | ná | /nä³⁵/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Sinological IPA) /na²¹/ (Mandarin, Chengdu, Sinological IPA) |
| 持 | chí | /ʈ͡ʂʰɻ̩³⁵/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Sinological IPA) /ʈ͡ʂʰɻ̩²⁴/ (Mandarin, Xi'an, Sinological IPA) |
| 把 | bǎ | /pä²¹⁴/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Sinological IPA) /pɑɻ²¹⁴/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Erhua, Sinological IPA, 把兒 / 把儿) |
The primary meaning is to grasp something. When you want to describe the continuous action of holding something, you often add the particle 着 to the verb, such as in 拿著.
Which one should you use?
持 is used to mean hold, maintain or persist, often in abstract contexts like holding an opinion or a principle. While 把 can mean to hold, it is also frequently used as a noun meaning a 'handle', such as a door handle.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word 把 can function as a noun meaning 'handle'.
How do you pronounce it?
拿 is pronounced as ná (/nä³⁵/).
Did you know?
- The character 把 is used as a 'measure word' for things with handles, such as umbrellas or chairs. Instead of just saying 'one umbrella', a speaker says 'one 把 umbrella'.
- While 拿 means 'to hold' or 'take', it is also used in the phrase 拿手, which describes someone's 'specialty' or the thing they are best at.
- The character 拿 is composed of the components for 'combine' and 'hand', suggesting the act of bringing something together with one's grasp.
Examples in context
- 堅持一下！就要成功了！Hold on! Success is close!The first sentence is useful for the form 持.Tatoeba #6142059 by xjjAstrus, translation #9401968 by BobbyLee
- 坚持。Hold on.The second sentence is useful for the form 持.Tatoeba #5092492 by mirrorvan, translation #1357000 by sacredceltic
- 用雙手拿著它。Hold it with both hands.The third sentence is useful for the form 拿.Tatoeba #340098 by nickyeow, translation #325639 by CK
- 请拿着那份报告走。(Qǐng ná zhe nā fèn bàogào zǒu.)Please hold onto that report and go.
- 她捧着一束鲜花。(Tā pěng zhe yī shù xiān huā.)She is holding a bouquet of flowers.
- 拿住这个书包。(Ná zhù zhè ge shū bāo.)Hold this backpack.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are cleaning up a room together.
- 俊杰 Junjie晓雯，请帮我拿那个盒子。Xiǎowén, qǐng bāng wǒ ná nàge hézi.Xiaowen, please help me hold that box.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen没问题，我现在就拿。Méi wèntí, wǒ xiànzài jiù ná.No problem, I'll hold it now.
- 俊杰 Junjie这个盒子有点重，小心点。Zhège hézi yǒudiǎn zhòng, xiǎoxīn diǎn.This box is a bit heavy, be careful.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen我知道了，我拿得很稳。Wǒ zhīdàole, wǒ ná de hěn wěn.I know, I'm holding it steadily.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hold” translations and entries 拿, 持, 把, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 把, 拿, 持, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
