把
bǎ
to hold; to grasp
to hold a baby in position to help it urinate or defecate; handlebar; classifier: handful, bundle, bunch; classifier for things with handles; (used to put the object before the verb: 把[ba3] + {noun} + {verb})
把 — the disposal marker that grabs the object and puts it before the verb
Originally it meant to grasp with the hand — the hand radical (扌) carries that physical sense. Over time the word extended: if you 'grasp' the object and move it, you naturally place it in focus before the verb, and that is how 把 became the marker that pulls the object forward.
Words with 把
游戏手把
yóu xì shǒu bà
gamepad (Tw)
镐把
gǎo bǎ
pickaxe handle
铁将军把门
tiě jiāng jūn bǎ mén
lit. General Iron is guarding the door (idiom)
门把
mén bǎ
door knob
门把手
mén bǎ shou
door knob; door handle
头发胡子一把抓
tóu fa hú zi yī bǎ zhuā
lit. hair and beard all in one stroke
鬼把戏
guǐ bǎ xì
sinister plot
一把好手
yī bǎ hǎo shǒu
expert
一把屎一把尿
yī bǎ shǐ yī bǎ niào
to have endured all sorts of hardships (to raise one's children) (idiom)
一把年纪
yī bǎ nián jì
to be of an advanced age; to be old
一把手
yī bǎ shǒu
working hand; member of a work team; participant
一把抓
yī bǎ zhuā
to attempt all tasks at once