摘 means “pick out, pluck”

てき · teki

Also: pinch, pick, trim

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

つむ

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

テキ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 14 strokes

The story

A hand (扌) nipping off just the tips: picture tea pickers plucking the newest leaves, 茶摘み. 摘む is to pick, and 指摘, picking something out with a finger (指), is pointing out a mistake, the word that fills every editor's notes.

Used in 指摘 (shiteki, pointing out), 摘む (tsumu, to pick/pluck), and 摘発 (tekihatsu, exposure/crackdown)

More from Grip, Rub & Twist

• 振 wave
• 握 grip
• 携 carry
• 扱 handle
• 摩 rub
• 撲 strike
• 抽 draw out
• 据 set in place
• 擦 rub
• 把 grasp
• 挿 insert
• 抹 rub out

Learn 摘 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.