挥

• Pinyin: huī
• Hanzi breakdown: 挥 = 扌(hand radical) + 军 (army/troops) — the image of commanding with a sweep of the hand

Meaning

To wave; to brandish; to wield. To swing or wave something (hand, weapon, flag, etc.) in a sweeping motion.

Describes a broad, sweeping gesture or action, such as waving a hand, brandishing a weapon, or swinging a tool. Also used in extended senses such as 挥毫 (to wield a brush in calligraphy) and 挥霍 (to squander resources). The core image is of a sweeping, energetic movement.

Examples

1. 指挥家举起双臂，轻轻挥动指挥棒，整个乐团随之进入音乐的状态。 The conductor raised both arms and gently waved the baton, and the entire orchestra immediately fell into the music.
2. 将军挥剑高呼，士兵们士气大振，纷纷奋勇向前冲锋。 The general waved his sword and shouted, and the soldiers’ morale surged as they charged forward.
3. 她挥手告别，目送朋友的身影消失在人群之中，心中涌起一阵不舍。 She waved goodbye, watching her friend disappear into the crowd, and felt a rush of reluctance to part.

Usage Guide

Context: physical action, literature, music, history

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 他在讲台上声情并茂地演讲，时而挥动双臂，时而停顿沉思，深深地感染了在场的每一位听众。(He delivered an impassioned speech on the stage, sometimes sweeping his arms wide, sometimes pausing in thought — deeply moving everyone present.)
• 书法家饱蘸墨汁，在宣纸上挥毫泼墨，笔势酣畅淋漓，一气呵成。(The calligrapher dipped the brush fully in ink and swept it across the rice paper with bold, fluid strokes — vigorous and unrestrained from start to finish.)

Don't Say

• 挥 for small, precise hand movements — use 动 or 移 for subtle gestures; 挥 implies a broad, energetic sweeping motion

Origin & History

挥 = 扌+ 军 (hand radical + army) — originally to command troops with a wave of the hand; extended to any sweeping gesture

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal