DICTIONARY · CC-CEDICT

撥

简拨 · 繁撥

Mandarin · pinyin bō

to push aside with the hand, foot, a stick etc
to dial
to allocate
to set aside (money)
to poke (the fire)
to pluck (a string instrument)
to turn round
classifier: group, batch

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撥: Look up this written character
拨: bō · move; dispel; distribute

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

1 · bo1

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1character link32same-tone records

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 21 senses · 3 Cantonese readings

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

but3 · but6 · put3

Cantonese word readings for 撥. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

character · Etymology 1

(transitive) to turn around; to move in a "waving", scattering way, including: — to dispel; to scatter
(transitive) to turn around; to move in a "waving", scattering way, including: — to distribute; to allocate (resources, staff, etc); to set aside (money)
(transitive) to turn around; to move in a "waving", scattering way, including: — to dial (a phone number)
(transitive) to turn around; to move in a "waving", scattering way, including: — to push aside or forward with the foot, hand, stick, etc.
(transitive) to turn around; to move in a "waving", scattering way, including: — to stir; to pluck
(transitive) to turn around; to move in a "waving", scattering way, including: — (figurative) to incite; to excite
(transitive) to turn around; to move in a "waving", scattering way, including: — to play a plucked string instrument
(transitive) to turn around; to move in a "waving", scattering way, including: — to wave a fan
(transitive) to turn around; to move in a "waving", scattering way, including: — to poke (a fire)
(transitive) to turn around; to move in a "waving", scattering way, including: — (Southern Min) to take out (time, etc.)
(transitive) to turn around; to move in a "waving", scattering way, including: — (Southern Min) to divert; to reallocate; to misappropriate (money, funds, etc.)
(intransitive) to wave; to sweep; to whirl
(intransitive) to ferment (of wine); to brew
(transitive) to delete; to cut
(transitive) to reject; to abandon
(transitive) to govern; to rule; to pacify
plectrum
Classifier for people or things: group; batch

character · Etymology 2

(Wu) to give
(Wu) to allow
(Wu) to; for; by

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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