What does 手 mean in Chinese?

手 (shǒu) means "hand; (formal) to hold; person engaged in certain types of work; person skilled in certain types of work; personal(ly); convenient; classifier for skill; ,隻|只[zhi1]" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 2.

How do you pronounce 手?

手 is pronounced "shǒu" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 3.

What HSK level is 手?

手 is an HSK 2 word on the new HSK exam syllabus.

What words contain the character 手?

Common words with 手 include 二手 (indirectly acquired), 不择手段 (by fair means or foul), 一手 (a skill), 上手 (to obtain), 下手 (to start).

How do you write 手?

手 has 4 strokes. Its radical is 手. You can view the stroke order animation on our stroke order tool.

手 (shǒu), hand

手

shǒu

hand; (formal) to hold; person engaged in certain types of work; person skilled in certain types of work

HSK 2 New to HSKclassifier4 strokes

Character Breakdown

Five fingers spread — a hand

Radical: 手 (no. 64)Strokes: 4

View stroke order →

Definitions

(classifier) hand
(formal) to hold
person engaged in certain types of work
person skilled in certain types of work
personal(ly)
convenient
classifier for skill
,隻|只[zhi1]

Classifier: 双 (shuāng), 只 (zhī)

Example Sentences

吃饭前要洗手。

Chīfàn qián yào xǐ shǒu

You need to wash your hands before eating

Words Containing 手

Word	Pinyin	Meaning	HSK
二手	èr shǒu	indirectly acquired	HSK 5
不择手段	bù zé shǒu duàn	by fair means or foul
一手	yī shǒu	a skill	HSK 7-9
上手	shàng shǒu	to obtain
下手

Related Words

对(duì)· right

→

一把手(yī bǎ shǒu)· working hand

→

了如指掌(liǎo rú zhǐ zhǎng)· to know sth like the back of one's hand (idiom)

→

倌(guān)· keeper of domestic animals

→

Grammar Notes

Possessive 的HSK 1

Possessor + 的 + Noun

Sentence-final 呢HSK 2

Subject + 呢？ OR Statement + 呢

Can/May (能 vs 可以)HSK 2

Subject + 能/可以 + Verb + Object

Passive with 被HSK 3

Receiver + 被 + (Doer) + Verb + Complement/了

Advanced Measure Words (条, 张, 把, 双)HSK 3

Number + Measure Word + Noun

Appears in these articles

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 2
HSK 2.0: Not listed
HSK Lord study list: HSK 1 list

手: New to the HSK lists at HSK 2. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 2 exam

Studying for HSK 2? Keep 手 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 2 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.