Chinese–EnglishWith examples

指手画脚

zhǐ shǒu huà jiǎo · zhi shou hua jiao

Traditional 指手畫腳

HSK 7–9

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. to gesticulate while talking (idiom)
  2. to explain by waving one's hands
  3. to criticize or give orders summarily
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In a conversation

0:19 cartoon

Who cooks?

  1. Dengdeng

    亮亮(liàngliàng)，别(bié)在(zài)旁边(pángbiān)指手画脚(zhǐshǒuhuàjiǎo)，你(nǐ)来(lái)做(zuò)吧(ba)！

    Liangliang, stop bossing people around from the side. You cook!

  2. Liangliang

    好(hǎo)，我(wǒ)来(lái)做(zuò)。你(nǐ)去(qù)旁边(pángbiān)看着(kànzhe)。

    OK, I will cook. You go and watch from the side.

  3. Dengdeng

    火(huǒ)太(tài)大(dà)了(le)！慢(màn)一点(yīdiǎn)！

    The fire is too high! Slower!

  4. Liangliang

    灯灯(dēngdēng)，你(nǐ)也(yě)在(zài)指手画脚(zhǐshǒuhuàjiǎo)！

    Dengdeng, you are bossing me around too!

  5. Dengdeng

    哈哈(hāhā)，我(wǒ)是(shì)在(zài)帮(bāng)你(nǐ)。

    Haha, I am helping you.

  6. Liangliang

    那(nà)我(wǒ)刚才(gāngcái)也(yě)是(shì)在(zài)帮(bāng)你(nǐ)！

    Then I was helping you just now!

Tap a word for its meaning in this line. The characters’ voices are computer-generated.

In a sentence

2 examples
01

不(bú)要(yào)让(ràng)她(tā)对(duì)你(nǐ)指(zhǐ)手(shǒu)画(huà)脚(jiǎo)。

Don't let yourself be bossed around by her.

Tatoeba: Chinese by slo_oth · English by Rawrren · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

他(tā)一(yì)边(biān)说(shuō)一(yì)边(biān)指(zhǐ)手(shǒu)画(huà)脚(jiǎo)，非(fēi)常(cháng)激(jī)动(dòng)。

He gesticulated while speaking, very excitedly.

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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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