招手

• Pinyin: zhāo shǒu
• Hanzi breakdown: 招 = to beckon/wave; 手 = hand

Meaning

To wave (one's hand); to beckon. A gesture to greet someone or signal them to come over.

Can mean waving hello/goodbye or beckoning someone to approach. Common phrases: 向某人招手 (wave to someone), 招手叫出租车 (hail a taxi by waving). Figuratively: 向...招手 can mean something is beckoning or awaiting you.

Examples

1. 他站在门口向我们招手表示欢迎。 He stood at the door waving to welcome us.
2. 她在人群中看到我，立刻高兴地招手。 She saw me in the crowd and immediately waved happily.
3. 司机看到有人招手，就把车停了下来。 The driver saw someone waving and stopped the car.

Usage Guide

Context: greetings, daily life, gestures

Tone: friendly

Do Say

• 他远远地向我招手。(He waved at me from afar.)
• 成功正在向你招手。(Success is beckoning to you.)

Don't Say

• 招手我的手 (Redundant — 招手 already means to wave one's hand)

Origin & History

Compound of 招 (to beckon, wave) and 手 (hand). To wave one's hand.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal