Chinese–EnglishWith examples

握手

wò shǒu · wo shou

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 3Old HSK 4

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. to shake hands
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In a conversation

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Shake hands or nod?

  1. Leon

    灯灯(dēngdēng)，在(zài)中国(zhōngguó)，见面(jiànmiàn)要(yào)握手(wòshǒu)吗(ma)？

    Dengdeng, in China, do people shake hands when they meet?

  2. Dengdeng

    中国人(zhōngguórén)见面(jiànmiàn)常常(chángcháng)点头(diǎntóu)，不(bù)一定(yīdìng)握手(wòshǒu)。

    Chinese people often nod when they meet. They do not always shake hands.

  3. Leon

    那(nà)我(wǒ)今天(jīntiān)见(jiàn)你(nǐ)爸爸(bàba)，怎么办(zěnmebàn)？

    Then what do I do when I meet your dad today?

  4. Dengdeng

    你(nǐ)想(xiǎng)握手(wòshǒu)，就(jiù)伸手(shēnshǒu)吧(ba)，我(wǒ)爸爸(bàba)很(hěn)热情(rèqíng)。

    If you want to shake hands, just reach out. My dad is very warm.

  5. Liangliang

    小心(xiǎoxīn)，他(tā)握手(wòshǒu)会(huì)握(wò)很久(hěnjiǔ)！

    Careful, when he shakes hands, he holds on for a long time!

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

In a sentence

2 examples
01

和(hé)别(bié)人(rén)握(wò)手(shǒu)的(de)时(shí)候(hou)，一(yí)定(dìng)要(yào)有(yǒu)眼(yǎn)神(shén)接(jiē)触(chù)。

When you shake hands with somebody, you must look him in the eye.

Tatoeba: Chinese by nickyeow · English by CM · CC BY 2.0 FR. Simplified Chinese conversion; Pinyin added or corrected.

02

他(tā)们(men)第(dì)一(yī)次(cì)见(jiàn)面(miàn)就(jiù)热(rè)情(qíng)地(de)握(wò)手(shǒu)问(wèn)好(hǎo)。

They warmly shook hands and greeted each other when they first met.

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How to write

Stroke order & practice

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

The characters

Explore individually
握
wò

to hold; to grasp; to clench (one's fist)

手
shǒu

hand; (formal) to hold

Individual character meanings do not always explain the meaning of a whole word.

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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