手 shǒu hand
hand; skilled person
How it came to be
A palm with the fingers splayed and the wrist below it. The three crossing strokes are fingers; the long hook down the middle is the arm.
How it is used
- 'Hand' - 洗手 (xǐ shǒu) wash hands, 手机 (shǒujī) cellphone (hand-machine), 手表 (shǒubiǎo) wristwatch.
- As a suffix -手 names a skilled doer: 歌手 (gēshǒu) singer, 选手 (xuǎnshǒu) contestant, 高手 (gāoshǒu) expert.
- 分手 (fēnshǒu) means to break up; 二手 (èrshǒu) means second-hand; 动手 (dòngshǒu) to get started / to come to blows.
Characters built with 手
Words with 手
- 手机shǒujīmobile (cell) phoneHSK 1
- 手表shǒubiǎowristwatchHSK 2
- 洗手间xǐshǒujiāntoiletHSK 2
- 歌手gēshǒusingerHSK 4
- 二手èrshǒuindirectly acquiredHSK 5
- 分手fēnshǒuto part companyHSK 5
- 动手dòngshǒuto set about (a task)HSK 5
- 对手duìshǒuopponentHSK 5
- 手套shǒutàogloveHSK 5
- 手工shǒugōnghandworkHSK 5
- 手指shǒuzhǐfingerHSK 5
- 手术shǒushùoperationHSK 5
- 手段shǒuduànmethodHSK 5
- 手续shǒuxùprocedureHSK 5
- 握手wòshǒuto shake handsHSK 5
- 选手xuǎnshǒuathleteHSK 5
- 随手suíshǒuconvenientlyHSK 5
- 助手zhùshǒuassistantHSK 6
- 手势shǒushìgestureHSK 6
- 手法shǒufǎtechniqueHSK 6
- 手臂shǒubìarm (from shoulder to wrist)HSK 6
- 招手zhāoshǒuto waveHSK 6
- 高手gāoshǒuexpertHSK 6
- 一手yìshǒua skillHSK 7
- 下手xiàshǒuto startHSK 7
- 两手liǎngshǒuone's two handsHSK 7
- 亲手qīnshǒupersonallyHSK 7
- 人手rénshǒumanpowerHSK 7
- 入手rùshǒuto beginHSK 7
- 出手chūshǒuto dispose ofHSK 7
- 帮手bāngshouhelperHSK 7
- 得心应手déxīn-yìngshǒuliterally what the heart wishes, the hand accomplishes skilled at the jobHSK 7
- 得手déshǒuto go smoothlyHSK 7
- 手动shǒudòngmanualHSK 7
- 手头shǒutóuon handHSK 7
- 手脚shǒujiǎohand and footHSK 7
- 手艺shǒuyìcraftmanshipHSK 7
- 打下手dǎxiàshǒuto act in a supporting roleHSK 7
- 把手bǎshouhandleHSK 7
- 拿手náshǒuexpert inHSK 7
Example sentences
- 吃饭前要洗手。 Chīfàn qián yào xǐshǒu.We have to wash our hands before eating.
- 先洗手，然后吃饭。 Xiān xǐshǒu, ránhòu chīfàn.Wash your hands before you eat.
- 他手里拿着一支香蕉。 Tā shǒu lǐ názhe yì zhī xiāngjiāo.He's holding a banana in his hand.
- 她戴着一条银手链。 Tā dàizhe yī tiáo yín shǒuliàn.She's wearing a silver bracelet.