抱
bào · HSK 4
hold/carry in arms
🤗 抱 = hand 扌 + 包 (wrap); the hand that wraps around = embrace
Phonetic 包 bāo (wrap, bundle) gives the sound bào and the meaning: arms that wrap around something. Extends from physical hugging to figurative senses like adopting a child or a hen brooding (wrapping) her eggs.
抱 — hand radical 扌 + wrap 包
A semantic-phonetic compound. The hand radical 扌 gives the meaning, indicating an action done with the hands, while 包 ('wrap, bundle') supplies the sound 'bāo/bào' and hints at enclosing. Together they depict wrapping something in the arms — to hold, embrace, or carry.