一手 yìshǒu a skill
a skill; mastery of a trade; by oneself; without outside help
How to remember 一手: 一 one + 手 hand = a skill.
Characters
How it is used
- Two live senses. (1) 'a skill/trade one has mastered': 露一手 (lòu yìshǒu) to show off one's skill, 好一手厨艺 (hǎo yìshǒu chúyì) a fine hand at cooking. (2) 'single-handedly / all by oneself': 一手包办 (yìshǒu bāobàn) to handle it all alone, 一手造成 (yìshǒu zàochéng) to bring about entirely by oneself.
- Sense (2) often implies sole responsibility, sometimes with a whiff of monopolizing or being to blame.
- Colloquial; 一手…一手… can also mean 'on one hand… on the other…' in action (一手交钱一手交货, cash in one hand, goods in the other).
Example sentences
- 给我们弹一手。 Gěi wǒmen tán yīshǒu.Play us a tune.
- 我爸爸能做一手好菜，我很自豪。 Wǒ bàbà néng zuò yīshǒu hǎocài, wǒ hěn zìháo.I'm proud that my father is a good cook.