HSK · Level 43
120 words
Chinese word
一把手
Pronunciation
Pinyinyī bǎ shǒu
Meaning
- nounboss
Example
公司里谁是一把手？gōng sī lǐ shuí shì yì bá shǒu
Who is the boss at the company?
More examples
作为公司的一把手，他要对发展方向负责。zuò wéi gōng sī de yì bá shǒu tā yào duì fā zhǎn fāng xiàng fù zé
As the company's boss, he must be responsible for the direction of its development.
Core concept
A single hand on the controls, with the authority to steer a group and make its biggest decisions.
Common phrases
公司的一把手gōng sī de yì bá shǒu
the company's boss
成为一把手chéng wéi yì bá shǒu
become the boss
项目的一把手xiàng mù dì yì bá shǒu
the project's person in charge
Similar words
领导líng dǎo: A person who leads an organization or group and sets its direction and policies.
老板láo bǎn: The owner or operator of a shop, company, or other business.
负责人fù zé rén: The person responsible for a task, project, or business area who coordinates its work.
主管zhú guǎn: The manager of a department or work area who oversees its daily work.
Definition in Chinese
在单位或团体中有最高实权、能最终决定重大事项的人。zài dān wèi huò tuán tǐ zhōng yǒu zuì gāo shí quán néng zuì zhōng jué dìng zhòng dà shì xiàng de rén
Word origin
一把手 (yībǎshǒu, "top person in charge") uses 把手 (bǎshou, "handle") as a model for control and 一 (yī, "one") for primacy, shifting the image from an object to the leading decision-maker.
Usage tips
- The word is common in conversational discussion of organizations, but its focus on actual power can sound blunt when a more neutral formal title is expected.
Other meanings
- leadernoun
- person in chargenoun
Opposites
- 二把手èr bá shǒusecond-in-commandnoun
- 副手fù shǒudeputynoun