Chinese–EnglishWith examples

空手

kōng shǒu · kong shou

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. empty-handed
  2. unarmed
  3. (painting, embroidery etc) without following a model
  4. (abbr. for 空手道 (kōng shǒu dào)) karate
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In a conversation

0:16 cartoon

Not empty-handed

  1. Dengdeng

    明天(míngtiān)去(qù)琦琦(qíqí)家(jiā)吃饭(chīfàn)，我们(wǒmen)别(bié)空手(kōngshǒu)去(qù)。

    We're having dinner at Qiqi's tomorrow. Let's not go empty-handed.

  2. Liangliang

    对(duì)，空手(kōngshǒu)去(qù)太(tài)不好意思(bùhǎoyìsi)了(le)。

    Right, going empty-handed would be too embarrassing.

  3. Dengdeng

    我(wǒ)买了(mǎile)水果(shuǐguǒ)，你(nǐ)带(dài)什么(shénme)？

    I bought fruit. What are you bringing?

  4. Liangliang

    我(wǒ)带了(dàile)好胃口(hǎowèikǒu)！

    I'm bringing a good appetite!

  5. Dengdeng

    哈哈(hāhā)，那(nà)你(nǐ)就(jiù)不算(bùsuàn)空手(kōngshǒu)去(qù)了(le)。

    Haha, then you don't count as going empty-handed.

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

他(tā)空(kōng)手(shǒu)抓(zhuā)住(zhù)了(le)那(nà)只(zhī)兔(tù)子(zi)。

He caught that rabbit with his bare hands.

02

你(nǐ)去(qù)参(cān)加(jiā)聚(jù)会(huì)总(zǒng)不(bù)能(néng)空(kōng)手(shǒu)去(qù)吧(ba)。

You can't go to a party empty-handed, after all.

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Stroke order & practice

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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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