Chinese word

手势

Pronunciation

Pinyinshǒu shì

Meaning

  • noungesture

Example

她用手势示意我安静。tā yòng shǒu shì shì yì wǒ ān jìng

She used a gesture to signal that I should be quiet.

Illustration for 手势 (gesture)

More examples

聋哑人士常用手势交流。lóng yǎ rén shì cháng yòng shǒu shì jiāo liú

People who are deaf and mute often use gestures to communicate.

Core concept

A deliberate movement of the hand that communicates an idea, direction, or attitude without spoken words.

Common phrases

  • 以手势暗示yǐ shǒu shì àn shì

    hint with a gesture

  • 比划手势bǐ huà shǒu shì

    make hand gestures

Similar words

动作dòng zuò: A specific movement or motion made by the body or hands.
姿势zī shì: The position or shape in which the body or one of its parts is held.
手语shóu yǔ: A complete language that communicates through hand signs, especially for deaf people.

Definition in Chinese

用手示意、指示或表示态度的动作或信号。yòng shǒu shì yì zhǐ shì huò biǎo shì tài dù de dòng zuò huò xìn hào

Word origin

手势 (shǒushì, "hand signal") combines 手 (shǒu, "hand") and 势 (shì, "posture or form"), so a hand's visible form becomes a meaningful sign.

Usage tips

  • Gestures such as pointing, beckoning, and a thumbs-up can carry different meanings across cultures, so the same movement may need a different interpretation in a Chinese-speaking setting.

Other meanings

  • signalnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word