Chinese word

招手

Pronunciation

Pinyinzhāo shǒu

Meaning

  • verbbeckon

Example

下课后，老师在门口对学生招手让他们先走。xià kè hòu lǎo shī zài mén kǒu duì xué shēng zhāo shǒu ràng tā men xiān zǒu

After class, the teacher beckoned to the students at the door to let them go first.

Illustration for 招手 (beckon)

More examples

服务员向我们招手，示意可以点菜。fú wù yuán xiàng wǒ men zhāo shǒu shì yì ké yǐ diǎn cài

The server beckoned to us, signaling that we could order.

Core concept

A hand motion that catches someone's attention, calls them closer, or sends a visible signal.

Common phrases

  • 招手示意zhāo shǒu shì yì

    signal by beckoning

  • 招手让他过来zhāo shǒu ràng tā guò lái

    beckon him over

Similar words

挥手huī shǒu: Move a hand or arm to greet someone or say goodbye.
招呼zhāo hū: Use words or a small gesture to greet someone or get their attention briefly.
示意shì yì: Indicate something to someone through a gesture or an expression.

Definition in Chinese

用手做出招呼的动作，主要表示用手势招呼别人过来或示意注意。yòng shǒu zuò chū zhāo hū de dòng zuò zhǔ yào biǎo shì yòng shǒu shì zhāo hū bié rén guò lái huò shì yì zhù yì

Word origin

招 (zhāo, "beckon") + 手 (shǒu, "hand") forms the idea of calling someone with a hand gesture.

Usage tips

  • English speakers often connect "wave" with greeting, but this Chinese word also covers a gesture that calls someone over or signals them from a distance.

Other meanings

  • waveverb
  • signalverb

Opposites

  • 摆手bái shǒuwave awayverb

Related words

  • 招手致意zhāo shǒu zhì yìwave in greetingidiom

Word lists with this word