Chinese word

挎

Pronunciation

Pinyinkuà

Meaning

  • verbcarry over one's shoulder

Example

她把包挎在肩上。tā bǎ bāo kuà zài jiān shàng

She carries the bag over her shoulder.

Illustration for 挎 (carry over one's shoulder)

More examples

他喜欢把相机挎在胸前，方便拍照。tā xǐ huān bǎ xiàng jī kuà zài xiōng qián fāng biàn pāi zhào

He likes to carry his camera across his chest, making it easy to take pictures.

Core concept

A strap or handle rests across one shoulder or a bent arm, so the body supports the carried item.

Common phrases

  • 挎包kuà bāo

    carry a bag over one's shoulder

  • 斜挎xié kuà

    sling diagonally

  • 挎在胸前kuà zài xiōng qián

    carry across one's chest

Similar words

背bèi: Supporting an item against the back or across both shoulders while carrying it.
拎līn: Carrying an item by gripping and lifting it with the hand.
拿ná: Using the hand to hold, take, or pick up an item.
挂guà: Attaching an item to a string, hook, rod, or other support to let it hang.

Definition in Chinese

把物件的带子或提手搭在肩上，以肩作支点支撑和携带物品的动作bǎ wù jiàn de dài zi huò tí shǒu dā zài jiān shàng yǐ jiān zuò zhī diǎn zhī chēng hé xié dài wù pǐn de dòng zuò

Word origin

挎 (kuà, "carry over one's shoulder") is formed from 扌 (shǒu, "hand radical") + 夸 (kuā, "boast"), with the first part marking a hand action and the second mainly supplying the sound.

Usage tips

  • In everyday descriptions, this verb highlights where a strap or handle rests, helping distinguish wearing a bag on one side from holding it directly in the hand.

Other meanings

  • carry over one's armverb
  • sling across one's bodyverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 斜挎xié kuàsling diagonallyverb
  • 挎包kuà bāoshoulder bagnoun
  • 挎肩包kuà jiān bāoshoulder bagnoun

Word lists with this word