手掌

• Pinyin: shǒu zhǎng
• Hanzi breakdown: 手 = a pictograph of a hand; 掌 = 尚 + 手 (palm — the central, primary surface of the hand; 尚 adds a sense of pre-eminence or centrality)

Meaning

Palm. The inner flat surface of the hand between the wrist and the fingers.

The anatomical term for the palm of the hand. Common in medical, physical, and figurative contexts. Key collocations: 手掌纹 (palm lines), 手掌出汗 (sweaty palms — a physiological stress response), 手掌向上 (palms facing upward — a gesture of openness). Also appears in vivid metaphors: 掌声 (applause — 'palm sound'); 手掌心 (centre of the palm, also figuratively meaning 'the grip of one's control' — 在他的手掌心里 means 'under his complete control'). Contrast: 手背 (back of the hand); 手指 (fingers).

Examples

1. 法医采集残留指纹后，又扫描手掌纹并比对数据库，缩小了嫌疑人范围。 After collecting the remaining fingerprints, the forensic expert also scanned the palm prints and compared them with the database, narrowing the suspect pool.
2. 他把温热的鹅卵石放在手掌里轻轻摩挲，沉默后平静而坚定地作出决定。 He placed the warm pebble in his palm and gently rubbed it, then after a long silence made his decision calmly and firmly.
3. 民间常说手掌反射疗法能调理身体，但临床证据仍不足。 People often say palm reflexology can improve the body, but clinical evidence is still insufficient.

Usage Guide

Context: anatomy, medicine, daily life, gesture, forensics

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 神经检查时，观察手掌感觉和精细动作，可初步判断周围神经损伤。(In neurological exams, observing palm sensation and fine motor skills can help initially assess peripheral nerve damage.)
• 研究表明，手掌向上的手势常表示开放或请求，向下则更显控制感。(Studies show that palm-up gestures often signal openness or a request, while palm-down gestures suggest more control.)

Don't Say

• 手掌 when referring to the back of the hand — use 手背 (back of the hand); 手掌 specifically refers to the inner, palm-facing surface; confusing the two can cause ambiguity in medical descriptions or physical instructions

Origin & History

手 (hand) + 掌 (palm — 尚 yet/still + 手 hand, suggesting the enduring central surface of the hand)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal