拿手

• Pinyin: ná shǒu
• Hanzi breakdown: 拿 = 合(combine) + 手(hand) — holding together in one's hand; 手 = hand (pictograph) — represents skill and craft

Meaning

Skilled at; expert in; one's specialty or forte.

Describes something a person is particularly good at or specialises in. Often used before nouns (拿手菜, 拿手绝活) or as a predicate. Common in casual and professional contexts to highlight individual strengths. Carries a tone of natural mastery rather than studied effort.

Examples

1. 她最拿手的菜是红烧肉，每次家庭聚餐都是大家最期待的环节。 Her specialty dish is braised pork belly, and at every family gathering it’s what everyone looks forward to most.
2. 这位谈判专家的拿手本领是在双方陷入僵局时迅速找到利益共同点。 This negotiation expert’s forte is quickly finding common interests when both sides are stuck in a stalemate.
3. 书法是他从小练就的拿手技艺，哪怕是最难写的字他也能挥洒自如。 Calligraphy is the skill he’s practiced since childhood; even the hardest characters, he can write with effortless flair.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, food, professional skills, casual conversation

Tone: positive/complimentary

Do Say

• 这道菜是厨师的拿手好菜，建议您一定要尝试一下。(This dish is the chef's specialty — we strongly recommend you try it.)
• 他的拿手之处在于能够用简洁的语言把复杂的法律问题讲清楚。(His forte lies in his ability to explain complex legal issues in concise and accessible language.)

Don't Say

• 把'拿手'用于描述某人擅长的不道德或负面行为 (拿手 implies a positive, admirable skill — use 惯于 or 善于 for neutral contexts, and avoid 拿手 for unflattering traits)

Origin & History

拿(to hold/grasp) + 手(hand). Literally 'something held firmly in one's hand' — something one is especially proficient at

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal