抽

chōu

HSK 5

抽 — chōu

1. to draw out (e.g., draw water, draw a card, draw a cigarette)

   他从箱子里抽出一张照片。 tā cóng xiāngzi lǐ chōuchū yīzhāng zhàopiān — He drew a photo out of the box.

2. to pull out from between; to pick out (something lodged among others)

   她从书堆中抽出那本旧日记。 tā cóng shūduī zhōng chōuchū nà běn jiù rìjì — She pulled that old diary out from the pile of books.

3. to remove part of the whole; to subtract or deduct (e.g., take out a portion)

   公司每月从薪水中抽出一部分作为福利基金。 gōngsī měiyuè cóng xīnshuǐ zhōng chōuchū yībùfèn zuòwéi fúlì jījīn — The company deducts part of the salary each month as a welfare fund.

4. (of certain plants) to sprout or bud; to send out shoots

   春天到了，花儿开始抽芽。 chūntiān dào le huāér kāishǐ chōuyá — Spring has arrived; the flowers are beginning to sprout buds.

5. to whip or thrash (beat someone with a whip or rod)

   古代罪犯有时会被抽打以示惩戒。 gǔdài zuìfàn yǒushí huì bèi chōudǎ yǐshì chéngjiè — In ancient times criminals were sometimes lashed as punishment.