Chinese Conversation · Level 1
86 words
Chinese word
抱抱
Pronunciation
Pinyinbào bào
Meaning
- verbhug
Example
来，抱抱我。lái bào bào wǒ
Come and hug me.
More examples
两个朋友见面，先互相抱抱。liǎng gè péng yǒu jiàn miàn xiān hù xiāng bào bào
When two friends meet, they first hug each other.
Core concept
An enclosing hold brings someone close and can both soothe the person and bear their weight.
Common phrases
给个抱抱gěi gè bào bào
give me a hug
互相抱抱hù xiāng bào bào
hug each other
抱抱一下再走bào bào yí xià zài zǒu
hug once before leaving
Similar words
抱bào: Holding a person lightly in the arms or drawing them close.
搂lǒu: Putting the arms around someone and drawing them close in a warm hold.
拥抱yōng bào: Embracing a person with both arms.
Definition in Chinese
口语中用来表示想被抱或表示给对方安慰的动作，常以动词重叠形式出现。kóu yǔ zhōng yòng lái biǎo shì xiǎng bèi bào huò biǎo shì gěi duì fāng ān wèi de dòng zuò cháng yǐ dòng cí chóng dié xíng shì chū xiàn
Word origin
抱抱 (bàobào, "hold close") is the reduplicated form of 抱 (bào, "hold in the arms"), a formation that presents the action as especially familiar and tender.
Usage tips
- The expression is especially natural in close relationships and child-directed speech, while formal situations usually use more neutral wording for physical contact.