挠

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to scratch; to thwart; to yield

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Formation & memory

Break the character into parts you already know.

Phono-semantic compound (形声字)

扌 meaning “hand” + 尧 sound ( yáo )

Components 扌尧

chafe · Heisig RSH #1855

fingers + javelin thrower

Keyword method from Heisig's Remembering Simplified Hanzi.

The most common words first — learning a character in context makes it stick.

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
百折不挠	bǎi zhé bù náo	to keep on fighting in spite of all setbacks (idiom); to be undaunted by repeated setbacks…
不屈不挠	bù qū bù náo	unyielding; indomitable
挠头	náo tóu	tricky; problematic; difficult; to scratch one's head (in puzzlement)
干挠	gān náo	variant of 干擾\|干扰[gan1 rao3], to interfere
挠曲	náo qū	to bend; flexing; deflection
挠率	náo lǜ	the torsion (of a space curve)
抓耳挠腮	zhuā ěr náo sāi	to tweak one's ears and scratch one's cheeks (as an expression of anxiety, delight, frustr…
挠败	náo bài	defeated; routed; crushed
挠裂	náo liè	split due to repeated folding; flex crack
挠钩	náo gōu	iron hook at the end a long pole
抓挠	zhuā nao	to scratch; to mess about with; to quarrel; to scramble to do; sb or sth that one can rely…
阻挠	zǔ náo	to thwart; to obstruct (sth)
屈挠	qū náo	to surrender; to yield; to flex
挠痒痒	náo yǎng yang	to tickle
痒痒挠	yǎng yang náo	backscratcher (made from bamboo etc)

Characters sharing the sound component 尧 — compare how they read.

Character	Pinyin	Meaning
尧 sound part	yáo	a legendary ancient emperor-sage
烧	shāo	to burn, to bake; to heat, to roast
绕	rào	to entwine, to wind around; to orbit, to revolve
饶	ráo	abundant, bountiful
翘	qiào	outstanding; to elevate, to lift, to raise
晓	xiǎo	dawn; clear, explicit, known
浇	jiāo	to spray, to sprinkle, to water
跷	qiāo	to stand on tiptoe; stilts
侥	jiǎo	to be lucky; by chance, by luck
桡	ráo	radius, forearm; a bent or twisted piece of wood
蛲	náo	parasitic worm; human pinworm
骁	xiāo	valiant, brave; skilled; a noble steed
娆	ráo	graceful, charming, fascinating
荛	ráo	fuel, firewood; grass, shrub; Wikstroemia japonica
哓	xiāo	garrulous; disturbed; restless
硗	qiāo	barren land; sandy soil
铙	náo	cymbals, hand-bell; to disturb