手表

• Pinyin: shǒu biǎo
• Hanzi breakdown: 手 = pictograph of a hand with five fingers; 表 = 衣 (clothing) + 毛 (fur), originally 'outer garment,' extended to 'surface/display'

Meaning

Wristwatch. A timepiece worn on the wrist.

The standard word for a wristwatch. The measure word is 块 (kuài): 一块手表. Distinguished from 钟 (clock, a wall or desk timepiece). Watches remain a popular gift in China, though giving a clock (送钟 sòng zhōng) is taboo because it sounds like 送终 (attending a funeral).

Examples

1. 他戴着一块很贵的手表。 He is wearing an expensive wristwatch.
2. 我的手表慢了五分钟。 My watch is five minutes slow.
3. 爸爸送给我一块手表当生日礼物。 Dad gave me a wristwatch as a birthday present.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, shopping, accessories

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你的手表真好看！(Your watch looks really nice!)
• 我忘了戴手表。(I forgot to wear my watch.)

Don't Say

• 不要把手表和钟混淆 (Don't confuse 手表 with 钟 — 手表 is a wristwatch worn on the wrist, while 钟 is a clock that hangs on a wall or sits on a desk)

Origin & History

手 (shǒu, hand) + 表 (biǎo, surface/display). Literally 'hand display,' a timepiece that shows time on the hand/wrist.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal