Chinese–EnglishWith examples

下手

xià shǒu · xia shou

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 7–9

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. to start
  2. to put one's hand to
  3. to set about
  4. the seat to the right of the main guest
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In a conversation

0:16 cartoon

Where to start cleaning

  1. Dengdeng

    我(wǒ)的(de)房间(fángjiān)太(tài)乱(luàn)了(le)，不(bù)知道(zhīdào)从(cóng)哪儿(nǎr)下手(xiàshǒu)。

    My room is so messy. I do not know where to start.

  2. Liangliang

    先(xiān)从(cóng)桌子(zhuōzi)下手(xiàshǒu)吧(ba)。

    Start with the desk.

  3. Dengdeng

    桌子(zhuōzi)上(shàng)有(yǒu)一百(yībǎi)件(jiàn)东西(dōngxi)。

    There are a hundred things on the desk.

  4. Liangliang

    那(nà)就(jiù)从(cóng)最小(zuìxiǎo)的(de)下手(xiàshǒu)。

    Then start with the smallest one.

  5. Dengdeng

    好(hǎo)！我(wǒ)先(xiān)把(bǎ)这张(zhèzhāng)纸(zhǐ)扔掉(rēngdiào)。

    Okay! I will throw this piece of paper away first.

  6. Liangliang

    那(nà)是(shì)我(wǒ)的(de)作业(zuòyè)！

    That is my homework!

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

他(tā)决(jué)定(dìng)先(xiān)下(xià)手(shǒu)，把(bǎ)问(wèn)题(tí)解(jiě)决(jué)掉(diào)。

He decided to act first and solve the problem.

02

这(zhè)件(jiàn)事(shì)要(yào)趁(chèn)早(zǎo)下(xià)手(shǒu)，别(bié)拖(tuō)太(tài)久(jiǔ)。

You should start on this matter early; don't delay too long.

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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