手腕 shǒuwàn wrist
wrist; trickery; finesse; ability; skill
How to remember 手腕: 手 hand + 腕 wrist = wrist.
Characters
How it is used
- Literally the wrist - 扭伤手腕 (niǔshāng shǒuwàn) to sprain one's wrist.
- Figuratively 'finesse, maneuvering skill', often shrewd or crafty: 政治手腕 (zhèngzhì shǒuwàn) political savvy/machination; 耍手腕 (shuǎ shǒuwàn) to play tricks/wheel and deal.
- The figurative sense can be admiring (skillful) or negative (scheming) depending on context.