Chinese word

下手

Pronunciation

Pinyinxià shǒu

Meaning

  • verbtake action

Example

他一看到机会就下手。tā yí kàn dào jī huì jiù xià shǒu

He takes action as soon as he sees an opportunity.

Illustration for 下手 (take action)

More examples

在这场竞争中，很多公司选择先下手为强。zài zhè chǎng jìng zhēng zhōng hěn duō gōng sī xuǎn zé xiān xià shǒu wéi qiáng

In this competition, many companies choose to act first to gain an advantage.

Core concept

Putting one's hand to something marks the point where preparation becomes action, from taking up a task to making a move against a person.

Common phrases

  • 一看到机会就下手yí kàn dào jī huì jiù xià shǒu

    act as soon as one sees an opportunity

  • 先下手为强xiān xià shǒu wéi qiáng

    act first to gain an advantage

  • 下手抢夺xià shǒu qiǎng duó

    take action to seize

Similar words

着手zhuó shǒu: Start working on a task or activity.
动手dòng shǒu: Begin work by doing it with one's own hands.
出手chū shǒu: Take action by stepping in to intervene or help.

Definition in Chinese

开始动手做某事；着手进行一项动作或行动，也可指开始对他人实施攻击或伤害。kāi shǐ dòng shǒu zuò mǒu shì zhuó shǒu jìn xíng yí xiàng dòng zuò huò xíng dòng yě kě zhǐ kāi shǐ duì tā rén shí shī gōng jī huò shāng hài

Word origin

下 (xià, "down") + 手 (shǒu, "hand") forms a physical image of bringing the hand down to act, which extends naturally to beginning a task or making a move against someone.

Usage tips

  • In short Chinese replies, 下手 (xiàshǒu, "take action") can appear without a stated object when the context already supplies what is being acted on, whereas English often names the action or target.

Other meanings

  • startverb
  • attackverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word