Usage note
拥抱是用手臂抱住对方，表示爱或安慰。
Yōng bào shì yòng shǒubì bào zhù duìfāng, biǎoshì ài huò ānwèi.
Embrace is to hold someone with arms, showing love or comfort.
Context note
在家里，拥抱是表达爱的好方式，比如妈妈拥抱孩子。
Zài jiālǐ, yōng bào shì biǎodá ài de hǎo fāngshì, bǐrú māma yōng bào háizi.
At home, hugging is a good way to express love, for example, a mother hugs her child.
5 examples
妈妈拥抱了我。
mā ma yōng bào le wǒ。
Mom hugged me.
朋友见面时互相拥抱。
péng yǒu jiàn miàn shí hù xiāng yōng bào。
Friends hug each other when they meet.
拥抱让人感到温暖。
yōng bào ràng rén gǎn dào wēn nuǎn。
Hugging makes people feel warm.
他给了妹妹一个大拥抱。
tā gěi le mèi mei yí gè dà yōng bào。
He gave his sister a big hug.
拥抱是友好的动作。
yōng bào shì yǒu hǎo de dòng zuò。
Hugging is a friendly gesture.
5 mini stories
小丽哭了，老师拥抱了她。小丽不哭了。
xiǎo lì kū le， lǎo shī yōng bào le tā。 xiǎo lì bù kū le。
Xiao Li cried, the teacher hugged her. Xiao Li stopped crying.
爸爸回家时，我拥抱了他。爸爸很开心。
bà ba huí jiā shí， wǒ yōng bào le tā。 bà ba hěn kāi xīn。
When Dad came home, I hugged him. Dad was very happy.
小狗摇尾巴，我拥抱了它。它舔我的手。
xiǎo gǒu yáo wěi ba， wǒ yōng bào le tā。 tā tiǎn wǒ de shǒu。
The puppy wagged its tail, I hugged it. It licked my hand.
生日那天，朋友们拥抱我。我觉得很幸福。
shēng rì nà tiān， péng yǒu men yōng bào wǒ。 wǒ jué de hěn xìng fú。
On my birthday, my friends hugged me. I felt very happy.
姐姐去远方前，我们拥抱告别。我很想她。
jiě jie qù yuǎn fāng qián， wǒ men yōng bào gào bié。 wǒ hěn xiǎng tā。
Before my sister went far away, we hugged goodbye. I miss her very much.
Mini dialogue
早安拥抱
A
妈妈，早上好！我可以给你一个拥抱吗？
Māma, zǎoshang hǎo! Wǒ kěyǐ gěi nǐ yī gè yōngbào ma?
Mom, good morning! Can I give you a hug?
B
当然可以，你的拥抱让我很开心。
Dāngrán kěyǐ, nǐ de yōngbào ràng wǒ hěn kāixīn.
Of course, your hug makes me very happy.
安慰朋友
A
你看起来不开心，需要我拥抱你一下吗？
Nǐ kàn qǐlái bù kāixīn, xūyào wǒ yōngbào nǐ yīxià ma?
You look unhappy, do you need me to give you a hug?
B
谢谢，你的拥抱让我感觉好多了。
Xièxie, nǐ de yōngbào ràng wǒ gǎnjué hǎo duō le.
Thank you, your hug makes me feel much better.
Related words and contrasts
similar
抱
bào
to hold; to hug
抱 is a simpler, more common word for hug or hold.
similar
搂
lǒu
to embrace; to cuddle
搂 often implies a tighter or more affectionate embrace.
contrast
握手
wò shǒu
to shake hands
握手 is a handshake, a different form of greeting compared to a hug.