Meaning of 鼓掌
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to applaud
- to clap
How to use 鼓掌
鼓掌 is a verb-object word meaning to clap or applaud, used for audiences, speeches, and performances. It often appears with 为 to say who you clap for. Example: 大家为他鼓掌。(Dàjiā wèi tā gǔzhǎng.) Everyone applauded him.
鼓 (gǔ) is a drum and 掌 (zhǎng) is the palm, as in 手掌 (shǒuzhǎng). When you 鼓掌, you beat your palms together like a drum.
Common mistake: Learners often say 鼓掌他 to mean "applaud him," but 鼓掌 cannot take a direct object. Use 为他鼓掌 (wèi tā gǔzhǎng) or 给他鼓掌 (gěi tā gǔzhǎng) instead.
鼓掌 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.
鼓 gǔ · drum · 13 strokes
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掌 zhǎng · in charge · 12 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 鼓掌.
| 掌握 | zhǎngwò | to grasp (often fig.); to control |
| 鼓励 | gǔlì | to encourage |
| 掌声 | zhǎngshēng | applause |
| 掌管 | zhǎngguǎn | in charge of; to control |
| 鼓舞 | gǔwǔ | to inspire; to encourage; to hearten; to boost (morale) |
| 手掌 | shǒuzhǎng | palm |
| 鼓动 | gǔdòng | to urge (an activity that may be beneficial, harmful or neutral); to encourage; to agitate |
| 敲边鼓 | qiāo biāngǔ | to back sb up; to support sb in an argument |
| 一鼓作气 | yīgǔ-zuòqì | in a spurt of energy |
| 掌控 | zhǎngkòng | to control; in control of |
| 鼓手 | gǔshǒu | drummer |
| 了如指掌 | liǎorúzhǐzhǎng | to know sth like the back of one's hand (idiom); to know (a person, a place etc) inside ou |
Questions about 鼓掌
What does 鼓掌 mean?
鼓掌 (gǔzhǎng) means "to applaud; to clap".
How do you write 鼓掌?
鼓掌 is made of 2 characters: 鼓 (13 strokes), 掌 (12 strokes). That is 25 strokes in total.
Is 鼓掌 an HSK word?
Yes. 鼓掌 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 鼓掌 and 掌声?
鼓掌 (gǔzhǎng) is the action of clapping, so it works as a verb. 掌声 (zhǎngshēng) is the sound of applause, a noun, as in 热烈的掌声 (rèliè de zhǎngshēng), warm applause.
Can 鼓掌 be split apart?
Yes. Because it is a verb plus object, you can insert words, as in 鼓了一会儿掌 (gǔ le yíhuìr zhǎng), clapped for a while. In everyday speech, people more often say 拍手 (pāishǒu) for casual clapping.