HSK · Level 122
47 words
Chinese word
指手画脚
Pronunciation
Pinyinzhǐ shǒu huà jiǎo
Meaning
- verbgesticulate
Example
他说话时喜欢指手画脚。tā shuō huà shí xǐ huān zhí shǒu huà jiǎo
He likes to gesticulate when he talks.
More examples
他在地图前指手画脚，把路线比划给我们看。tā zài dì tú qián zhí shǒu huà jiǎo bǎ lù xiàn bǐ huà gěi wǒ men kàn
He gestured in front of the map to show us the route.
Core concept
Visible gestures used to steer another person's actions or choices, often without being invited.
Common phrases
和朋友聊天时指手画脚hé péng yǒu liáo tiān shí zhí shǒu huà jiǎo
gesture while chatting with friends
在地图前指手画脚zài dì tú qián zhí shǒu huà jiǎo
gesture in front of a map
Similar words
打手势dá shǒu shì: Make a simple hand gesture to signal something or express an intention.
示意shì yì: Communicate something through a hand movement or facial expression.
干涉gān shè: Intrude into another person's affairs while trying to influence what they think or do.
Definition in Chinese
用手或身体比划示意别人该怎么做，既可表示动作也常用于口出指示或干涉。yòng shǒu huò shēn tǐ bǐ huà shì yì bié rén gāi zěn me zuò jì kě biǎo shì dòng zuò yě cháng yòng yú kǒu chū zhǐ shì huò gān shè
Word origin
The idiom combines 指 (zhǐ, "point"), 手 (shǒu, "hand"), 画 (huà, "draw"), and 脚 (jiǎo, "foot") to picture someone using the whole body to show others how to act.
Usage tips
- English speakers may expect a movement-only verb, but Chinese also uses this word for spoken interference when no gestures are present.
Other meanings
- meddleverb
- boss aroundverb