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拥抱
yōng bào
What does "拥抱" mean in English?
hug妈妈紧紧拥抱了孩子。
Mom hugged the child tightly.
How to use "拥抱" correctly: definitions and examples in English?
neutral
To hold someone close in one's arms as a sign of affection or comfort.
朋友们在机场拥抱告别。
Friends hugged goodbye at the airport.
她拥抱了新的挑战。
She embraced the new challenge.
Can also mean 'to embrace' in a figurative sense (e.g., accepting an idea or change).
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Physical vs. Figurative Use
拥抱 primarily refers to physical hugs but is frequently used metaphorically (e.g., 拥抱机会 = 'embrace the opportunity'). Pay attention to context to distinguish between the two.
Gold Rule
Avoid Overlapping with 抱
While 抱 (bào) means 'to hold/carry', 拥抱 emphasizes the act of hugging with both arms, often involving close contact. For example, 抱孩子 (hold a child) vs. 拥抱孩子 (hug a child).
Word Origin
拥 (yōng) originally meant 'to crowd' or 'to support', later extended to 'to embrace'; 抱 (bào) means 'to hold' or 'to carry'. Combined, 拥抱 evolved from literal physical holding to emotional embrace.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in both literal (physical hugs) and figurative (accepting ideas/changes) contexts. In modern usage, it may also imply emotional support or reconciliation.
Word Breakdown
拥
to crowd around/support
root抱
to hold/carry
root汉英词典