夺取
duó qǔ · HSK 6
to seize
🪖 夺 = seize/snatch, 取 = take — double verb meaning forcibly take
夺 (duó) means to snatch or wrest; 取 (qǔ) means to take or obtain. Together they reinforce each other: to seize and take, often by force. Common in military or power-struggle contexts like 夺取政权 (seize political power).
夺 — big 大 + short-tailed bird 隹 + hand 寸
Originally written 奪, showing a hand (寸) seizing a bird (隹) from someone's grasp (大), depicting the act of snatching away. The simplified form 夺 drops the bird component but keeps the meaning of seizing, taking by force, or contending for something.
取 — ear 耳 + hand 又
取 originally depicted a hand (又) grasping an ear (耳), referencing the ancient practice of soldiers cutting off enemies' left ears as proof of kills to claim rewards. The meaning broadened from 'seize/take by force' to the general sense of 'take, get, obtain' used today.