Usage note
抱用来表示拥抱的动作，通常用于表达爱意或安慰。
bào lái yòng lái biǎo shì yōng mào de dòng zuò, tōng cháng yòng lái bǐ sài ài yì huò wèn ān.
抱 is used to indicate the action of hugging, usually for expressing love or comfort.
Context note
抱常用于家庭、朋友间，比如拥抱父母或好友。
bào cháng yòng yú jiā tíng、péng yǒu jiān, bǐ rú yōng mào fù mǔ huò hǎo yǒu.
抱 is commonly used in family and friendship settings, such as hugging parents or friends.
5 examples
我们拥抱了好久。
wǒ men yōng bào le hǎo jiǔ。
We hugged for a long time.
妈妈每天都会抱我。
mā ma měi tiān dōu huì bào wǒ。
Mom would hug me every day.
他轻轻地抱着妹妹。
tā qīng qīng dì bào zhe mèi mei。
He gently hugged his younger sister.
孩子们在公园里互相拥抱。
hái zi men zài gōng yuán lǐ hù xiāng yōng bào。
The children hugged each other in the park.
医生会抱起受伤的病人。
yī shēng huì bào qǐ shòu shāng de bìng rén。
Doctors would pick up injured patients.
5 mini stories
妈妈每天早上都会抱着我起床。爸爸则会轻轻拍我的背。
mā ma měi tiān zǎo shàng dōu huì bào zhe wǒ qǐ chuáng。 bà ba zé huì qīng qīng pāi wǒ de bèi。
Mom would always hug me to wake up in the morning, while Dad would gently pat my back.
在学校里，同学们会互相拥抱来表达友好。
zài xué xiào lǐ， tóng xué men huì hù xiāng yōng bào lái biǎo dá yǒu hǎo。
At school, classmates would hug each other to show friendliness.
在寒冷的冬天，妈妈会抱我进屋。
zài hán lěng de dōng tiān， mā ma huì bào wǒ jìn wū。
In the cold winter, Mom would hug me into the house.
当朋友难过时，我们可以拥抱来安慰他。
dāng péng yǒu nán guò shí， wǒ men kě yǐ yōng bào lái ān wèi tā。
When a friend is sad, we can hug them to comfort them.
医生在急救时会抱起病人。
yī shēng zài jí jiù shí huì bào qǐ bìng rén。
Doctors would pick up patients in emergency situations.
Mini dialogue
妈妈的拥抱
A
妈妈，我今天有点难过。
Māma, wǒ jīntiān yǒudiǎn nánguò.
Mom, I'm a bit sad today.
B
来，妈妈抱抱你。
Lái, māma bào bào nǐ.
Come, let mom give you a hug.
抱小猫咪
A
我可以抱一下这只小猫吗？
Wǒ kěyǐ bào yīxià zhè zhī xiǎo māo ma?
Can I hold this kitten for a bit?
B
当然可以，轻轻地抱哦。
Dāngrán kěyǐ, qīngqīng de bào o.
Of course, hold it gently.
Related words and contrasts
similar
拥抱
yōng bào
embrace; hug
拥抱 is a more formal or warm word for hugging.
similar
搂
lǒu
hold in one's arms; cuddle
搂 means to hold someone or something closely.