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    Chinese Grammar

    Using 拿起 (náqǐ) to express "to pick up"

    Actions & Events
    Direction & Movement

    Structure

    Subject + 拿起 + (了) + Object

    Explanation

    拿起 (náqǐ) is a verb-complement compound meaning "to pick up" or "to take up." The directional complement 起 indicates an upward motion, showing that the object is being lifted from a surface.

    Examples

    • 他拿起桌上的手机看了一眼。

      Tā ná qǐ zhuō shàng de shǒujī kàn le yī yǎn.

      He picked up the phone from the table and glanced at it.

    • 她拿起杯子喝了一口水。

      Tā ná qǐ bēizi hē le yī kǒu shuǐ.

      She picked up the cup and took a sip of water.

    • 孩子拿起画笔开始画画。

      Háizi ná qǐ huàbǐ kāishǐ huà huà.

      The child picked up a paintbrush and started drawing.

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    Using 拿起 (náqǐ) to express "to pick up" | Chinese Grammar