Meaning of 两手
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- one's two hands
- two prongs (of a strategy)
- both aspects, eventualities etc
- skills
- expertise
How to use 两手
Besides the literal 'both hands', 两手 often means a set of skills, especially in the phrase 露两手 (lòu liǎngshǒu), 'to show off a bit of skill'. It can also mean a two-pronged approach, as in 两手准备 (liǎngshǒu zhǔnbèi), preparing for both outcomes. Example: 他在厨房露了两手。(Tā zài chúfáng lòu le liǎngshǒu.) He showed off his cooking skills in the kitchen.
两 (liǎng) means two and 手 (shǒu) means hand, so 两手 is simply your two hands. Someone who can use both hands well has real skill, which is how the word also comes to mean expertise.
Common mistake: Learners often say 二手 when they mean 'two hands', but 二手 (èrshǒu) means second-hand or used, as in 二手车 (a used car). Also remember the tone sandhi: 两手 is two third tones, so it is pronounced liánshǒu in speech, with 两 rising.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
两 liǎng · two · 7 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
手 shǒu · hand · 4 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Related words
Words that share a character with 两手.
| 手机 | shǒujī | cell phone; mobile phone |
| 洗手间 | xǐshǒujiān | toilet; lavatory |
| 手表 | shǒubiǎo | wristwatch |
| 举手 | jǔshǒu | to raise a hand; to put up one's hand (as signal) |
| 手指 | shǒuzhǐ | finger |
| 对手 | duìshǒu | opponent; rival |
| 选手 | xuǎnshǒu | athlete; contestant |
| 歌手 | gēshǒu | singer |
| 握手 | wòshǒu | to shake hands |
| 手续 | shǒuxù | procedure; formalities |
| 分手 | fēnshǒu | to part company; to split up |
| 手术 | shǒushù | (surgical) operation; surgery |
Questions about 两手
What does 两手 mean?
两手 (liǎngshǒu) means "one's two hands; two prongs (of a strategy)" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 两手?
两手 is made of 2 characters: 两 (7 strokes), 手 (4 strokes). That is 11 strokes in total.
Is 两手 an HSK word?
Yes. 两手 is on the HSK 6 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 两手 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 两手 is written 兩手.
What does 有两手 mean?
有两手 (yǒu liǎngshǒu) means someone really has some skill or knows what they are doing. It is a casual compliment, like saying 'he's got some real talent'.
What is the difference between 两手 and 双手?
双手 (shuāngshǒu) is the more common, neutral way to say 'both hands' in a physical sense, as in 用双手 (with both hands). 两手 can also mean that, but it is the word used for figurative meanings like skills or a two-sided strategy.