Meaning of 手表
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- wristwatch
Measure word: 塊|块,隻|只,個|个
How to use 手表
手表 is the everyday word for a wristwatch, and its measure word is 块 (kuài) or 只 (zhī). Example: 我的手表慢了五分钟。(Wǒ de shǒubiǎo màn le wǔ fēnzhōng.) My watch is five minutes slow.
手 (shǒu) means hand and 表 (biǎo) here means a watch or meter, so 手表 is the watch you wear by your hand. Picture the band wrapped around the wrist just above your 手.
Common mistake: Learners often say 手表 when they mean a clock on the wall, but that is 钟 (zhōng) or 挂钟 (guàzhōng). Also note that 表 in 手表 is the same character as in 表示 (biǎoshì) or 表演 (biǎoyǎn) in simplified Chinese, even though the meanings are unrelated.
手表 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
手 shǒu · hand · 4 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
表 biǎo · exterior surface · 8 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
Related words
Words that share a character with 手表.
| 手机 | shǒujī | cell phone; mobile phone |
| 洗手间 | xǐshǒujiān | toilet; lavatory |
| 表示 | biǎoshì | (of sb) to express; to state; to show; (of sth) to indicate; to signify; to show |
| 举手 | jǔshǒu | to raise a hand; to put up one's hand (as signal) |
| 代表 | dàibiǎo | representative; delegate |
| 表演 | biǎoyǎn | play; show |
| 表现 | biǎoxiàn | to show; to show off |
| 手指 | shǒuzhǐ | finger |
| 对手 | duìshǒu | opponent; rival |
| 表达 | biǎodá | to express; to convey |
| 选手 | xuǎnshǒu | athlete; contestant |
| 歌手 | gēshǒu | singer |
Questions about 手表
What does 手表 mean?
手表 (shǒubiǎo) means "wristwatch" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 手表?
手表 is made of 2 characters: 手 (4 strokes), 表 (8 strokes). That is 12 strokes in total.
Is 手表 an HSK word?
Yes. 手表 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 手表 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 手表 is written 手錶.
How do you say smartwatch in Chinese?
A smartwatch is 智能手表 (zhìnéng shǒubiǎo). Many people also just say 手表 in context, the same way 手机 (shǒujī) covers smartphones.
Can 表 alone mean watch?
Yes. In casual speech people often drop 手 and say 表, as in 你戴表了吗？(Nǐ dài biǎo le ma?) Are you wearing a watch? The verb for wearing a watch is 戴 (dài), not 穿 (chuān).