手工

• Pinyin: shǒu gōng
• Hanzi breakdown: 手 = pictograph of a hand with five fingers; 工 = pictograph of a carpenter's square, meaning work or craft

Meaning

Handmade; handicraft; manual work done by hand rather than by machine.

Can function as both a noun (handicraft, manual work) and an adjective modifier (handmade). Used to describe products made by hand, the craft of making things by hand, or the handicraft class in schools. Emphasises human skill and effort over machine production.

Examples

1. 这条围巾是奶奶手工织的。 This scarf was hand-knitted by grandma.
2. 小朋友们在手工课上做了很多漂亮的纸花。 The children made many beautiful paper flowers in handicraft class.
3. 这家店卖的都是手工制作的巧克力。 This shop sells only handmade chocolates.

Usage Guide

Context: crafts, shopping, education

Tone: appreciative

Do Say

• 这个手工皮包做得非常精致。(This handmade leather bag is exquisitely crafted.)
• 孩子们最喜欢上手工课了。(The children love handicraft class the most.)

Don't Say

• 我用电脑手工做了一个表格。(Don't use 手工 for computer work — 手工 specifically means done by hand, not with machines or software.)

Origin & History

Compound of 手 (hand) and 工 (work, craft), literally 'hand work.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal