掐

qiā

HSK 7

掐 — qiā

1. to pinch / to pick (flowers); to nip off

   她在院子里掐了一朵花。 tā zài yuànzi lǐ qiā le yīduǒhuā — She pinched off a flower in the yard.

2. to pinch (skin) / to clutch or squeeze tightly

   他一把掐住了绳子，不让它滑走。 tā yībǎ qiāzhù le shéngzi bùràng tā huázǒu — He grabbed the rope and pinched it so it wouldn't slip away.

3. (slang) to fight; to quarrel physically

   两个人在街上掐起来了，大家都劝不开。 liǎnggè rén zài jiēshàng qiā qǐlái le dàjiā dōu quàn bùkāi — Two people started fighting on the street; no one could stop them.