掀 xiān to stir up
to stir up; to lift
How to remember 掀: 扌 hand + 欣 delighted = to stir up. The toddler swings her hand through the bath water, delighted to find it so easy to stir up a huge wave.
Component breakdown
掀 = 扌 hand + 欣 delighted
- 扌 hand
- 欣 delighted
The toddler swings her hand through the bath water, delighted to find it so easy to stir up a huge wave.
How it is used
- To lift/throw open, to whip up: 掀开被子 (xiānkāi bèizi) throw off the covers, 掀桌子 (xiān zhuōzi) flip the table.
- 掀起 (xiānqǐ) = to set off / stir up: 掀起热潮 (xiānqǐ rècháo) to touch off a craze, 掀起风波 (xiānqǐ fēngbō) to raise a stir.
- 狂风掀起巨浪 (kuángfēng xiānqǐ jùlàng) = the gale whips up huge waves.