吸取 (xī qǔ) is a compound verb meaning 'to absorb' or 'to learn from' — especially knowledge, experience, lessons, or essence from something. The first character 吸 (xī) means 'to suck in' or 'to inhale', suggesting intake; the second character 取 (qǔ) means 'to take' or 'to obtain'. Together, they convey the idea of actively drawing something valuable into oneself — not just physically (like absorbing nutrients), but more commonly in abstract, intellectual, or moral contexts, such as learning from history, mistakes, or others’ expertise.

This word is frequently used in formal, written, or educational settings — for example, in speeches, textbooks, or advice about personal growth. It often appears with nouns like 教训 (jiàoxùn, 'lesson'), 经验 (jīngyàn, 'experience'), 营养 (yíngyǎng, 'nutrition'), or 知识 (zhīshi, 'knowledge'). While it can refer to physical absorption (e.g., plants absorbing water), its dominant usage is metaphorical and cognitive.