手

• Pinyin: shǒu
• Hanzi breakdown: 手 = pictograph of a hand with five fingers

Meaning

Hand. The body part used for grasping, holding, and performing tasks.

Beyond its literal meaning, 手 appears in many common compounds: 手机 (mobile phone), 左手 (left hand), 右手 (right hand), 洗手 (wash hands). Also used figuratively in words like 歌手 (singer) and 选手 (contestant).

Examples

1. 请洗手。 Please wash your hands.
2. 他的手很大。 His hands are very big.
3. 我的左手有点疼。 My left hand hurts a bit.

Usage Guide

Context: body, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 吃饭前要洗手。(Wash your hands before eating.)
• 请举手。(Please raise your hand.)

Don't Say

• 我手不好。(Vague — specify what's wrong: say 我的手受伤了 for injured, or 我的手很冷 for cold)

Origin & History

A pictograph depicting a hand with five fingers spread out, one of the oldest Chinese characters.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal