掠 lüè to pillage
to pillage; to ransack
How to remember 掠: 扌 hand + 京 capital = to pillage. While the family is away in the capital, a burglar slips his hand through the window and starts to pillage the house.
Component breakdown
掠 = 扌 hand + 京 capital
- 扌 hand
- 京 capital
While the family is away in the capital, a burglar slips his hand through the window and starts to pillage the house.
How it is used
- Two threads: to plunder - 掠夺 (lüèduó) to pillage, 抢掠 (qiǎnglüè) to loot; and to skim/sweep past - 掠过 (lüèguò) to graze/flit by: 燕子掠过水面 (yànzi lüèguò shuǐmiàn) a swallow skims the water.
- 一丝笑容掠过脸庞 (yìsī xiàoróng lüèguò liǎnpáng) = a flicker of a smile crossed the face.