Word

指手画脚 (zhǐ shǒu huà jiǎo) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 7

Meaning of 指手画脚

动 dòng verb

to gesticulate excessively; to boss around; to meddle

他总是对别人的工作指手画脚。

tā zǒng shì duì bié rén de gōng zuò zhǐ shǒu huà jiǎo

He always meddles in other people's work.

Word breakdown

指 zhǐ — to point (with finger)

手 shǒu — hand (used in gesturing)

画 huà — to draw/gesture (making movements)

脚 jiǎo — foot (suggesting excessive body movement)

1 脚步 jiǎo bù — footstep, step, pace HSK 5
- 脚 foot (the body part that steps)
- 步 step (the action of stepping)
Example

她加快了脚步走向车站。

tā jiā kuài le jiǎo bù zǒu xiàng chē zhàn

She quickened her pace toward the station.
2 脚印 jiǎo yìn — footprint HSK 6
- 脚 foot
- 印 print, mark
Example

雪地里留下了一串脚印。

xuě dì lǐ liú xià le yī chuàn jiǎo yìn

A series of footprints were left in the snow.
3 手脚 shǒu jiǎo — limbs; hands and feet HSK 7
- 手 hand; upper limbs
- 脚 foot; lower limbs
Example

他的手脚很灵活。

tā de shǒu jiǎo hěn líng huó

His limbs are very agile.
4 绊脚石 bàn jiǎo shí — stumbling block HSK 7
- 绊 to trip, to stumble
- 脚 foot
- 石 stone, rock
Example

恐惧往往是成功路上的绊脚石。

kǒng jù wǎng wǎng shì chéng gōng lù shàng de bàn jiǎo shí

Fear is often a stumbling block on the road to success.
5 脚踏实地 jiǎo tà shí dì — down-to-earth, realistic and practical HSK 7
- 脚 foot/leg - represents one's physical foundation
- 踏 step/tread - the action of stepping firmly
- 实 solid/real - emphasizes stability and reality
- 地 ground/earth - the foundation one stands on
Example

他做事脚踏实地，从不好高骛远。

tā zuò shì jiǎo tà shí dì cóng bù hào gāo wù yuǎn

He does things in a down-to-earth manner and never aims unrealistically high.

Structure & writing

1 指 zhǐ — finger

指 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

1.1 扌 shǒu — hand radical, indicating actions done with the hand

扌 is a component in 176 characters

HSK 1

打 dǎ to strike or hit with hand or tool 找 zhǎo to look for; to seek out

HSK 3

扫 sǎo to sweep away dust or garbage with a broom 把 bǎ to hold; to grasp 护 hù to protect; to defend 报 bào newspaper; also refers to certain periodicals 担 dān to carry on a shoulder pole

Show more HSK 3 characters (+8)

拍 pāi to slap or pat with the palm or a flat object 持 chí to hold; to grasp 挺 tǐng stiff and straight 换 huàn to exchange; to trade (give something and receive something else) 据 jù to occupy; to seize 接 jiē to approach; to come into contact with 提 tí carry (something with a handle, ring, or strap) with the arm hanging down 搬 bān to move (a heavy or large object)

HSK 4

举 jǔ to lift, raise, or hold up 扔 rēng to throw, to fling (with the arm) 扬 yáng to raise up; to lift upward 扰 rǎo to disturb, to disrupt 批 pī to slap with the palm

Show more HSK 4 characters (+19)

技 jì skill, craft 折 zhé to break; to snap 抬 tái to lift up; to raise 抱 bào to embrace with arms, to hug 拉 lā to pull toward oneself or drag along 拒 jù to resist; to withstand 招 zhāo to wave or gesture for someone to come or as a greeting 拾 shí to pick up (something from the ground) 挂 guà to hang (something) on a hook, nail, rope, etc. 指 zhǐ finger 按 àn press down with a hand or finger 授 shòu to hand over; to confer (used in formal or ceremonial occasions) 掉 diào to fall; to drop 排 pái to arrange in a row or sequence one after another 推 tuī push (an object) outward in the direction of force 摄 shè to absorb; to take in 播 bō to spread, to disseminate 操 cāo to hold; to grasp in the hand 擦 cā to rub, wipe, or scrub

HSK 5

扣 kòu to fasten or hook with a ring or clasp 执 zhí to hold; to grasp 扩 kuò to expand, enlarge; to increase in scope, scale, or quantity 扮 bàn to dress up as (a person or thing) 扶 fú to support with one's hand to prevent falling, or to help something fallen stand up again

Show more HSK 5 characters (+32)

抓 zhuā to grasp; to grip (with fingers closed around object) 投 tóu to throw toward a target 抢 qiǎng to snatch; to seize by force 押 yā to sign or mark on an official document or contract as authentication 抽 chōu pull out (something sandwiched between objects) 拆 chāi to take apart; to disassemble 拖 tuō to drag (an object along a surface) 拥 yōng to embrace; to hug 拨 bō to move (something) aside with hand, foot, or stick 括 kuò (lit.) to tie up; to bind 拼 pīn to join together; to combine 挑 tiǎo to pry open; to flick up with a pointed or slender object 挡 dǎng to block, obstruct; to shield 挣 zhèng struggle to free oneself from restraint 挤 jǐ crowd together; (of many things) concentrated at the same time 挥 huī to wave or swing (the arm, or something held) 捐 juān to abandon; to give up 损 sǔn to decrease; to lose 捡 jiǎn to pick up; to collect 控 kòng to accuse, to lodge a complaint against 措 cuò to arrange; to handle 描 miáo to trace (a drawing or writing, often with transparent paper over a template) 插 chā to insert, stick in, or thrust (a long or flat object) into something 握 wò to grasp or hold something in the hand with fingers curled 搜 sōu to search everywhere 搞 gǎo to do, make, handle, or carry out 摇 yáo to shake; to sway back and forth 摔 shuāi to fall down (losing balance) 摘 zhāi to pick; to pluck (flowers, fruit, leaves, or things worn/hung) 摸 mō to touch or gently stroke with the hand 撞 zhuàng to collide with; to crash into 擅 shàn to act without authorization; to exceed one's authority

HSK 6

扎 zhā to prick; to pierce 扑 pū to lunge forward and throw oneself onto something 托 tuō to support (an object) with the palm or another surface facing upward 扭 niǔ to turn from one direction to another 抄 chāo to copy (text); to transcribe

Show more HSK 6 characters (+23)

抑 yì to press down; to suppress 抗 kàng to resist; to withstand 抛 pāo to throw; to toss 披 pī to drape over the shoulders 抵 dǐ to prop up; to support 拐 guǎi to turn; to change direction 拔 bá to pull out, uproot 拟 nǐ to draft; to draw up 拦 lán to block, obstruct, stop 挖 wā to dig (into the ground to form a pit, trench, etc.) 挫 cuò to be frustrated; to fail 捉 zhuō to grip; to grasp 捕 bǔ to catch; to arrest 捧 pěng to hold or carry with both hands cupped 捷 jié fast; swift 掏 tāo to reach into and take out 援 yuán to pull or hold with the hand 搭 dā to set up; to erect 携 xié to carry with one; to bring along 摆 bǎi to arrange; to lay out 撑 chēng prop up, support 撒 sā to release; to open up 撤 chè to remove; to cancel

HSK 7

扒 bā to grip; to hold on to 扛 káng to carry on one's shoulder (without tools) 扯 chě to pull; to tug 扳 bān to pull or press (a fixed end) downward or inward to change direction 抉 jué (lit.) to gouge out; to dig out

Show more HSK 7 characters (+67)

抒 shū to express, to give free rein to (one's feelings or opinions) 抖 dǒu to tremble or shiver (from cold or fear) 抚 fǔ to stroke gently 抠 kōu to dig out with a finger or small tool 抡 lūn to swing one's arm forcefully 抨 pēng (lit.) to impeach (弹劾) 抹 mǒ to spread; to apply (paint, cream, etc.) 拄 zhǔ to lean on (a stick or cane) for support 拇 mǔ thumb or big toe; the first digit of the hand or foot 拌 bàn to stir or mix thoroughly 拎 līn to carry (something) in one's hand 拓 tuò to open up (land, roads) 拘 jū to arrest or detain 拙 zhuō clumsy; unskillful 拢 lǒng to close up, to gather together 拣 jiǎn to choose; to select 拧 níng to wring; to twist both ends of an object in opposite directions with both hands 拯 zhěng to rescue, to save 拱 gǒng to clasp one's hands together as a gesture of respect 拴 shuān to tie or fasten with a rope 拽 zhuài to pull hard 挎 kuà to hook or hang something by bending one's arm 挟 xié to clamp under the arm 挠 náo to obstruct or hinder someone from doing something 挨 āi to be close to; to be next to 挪 nuó to move; to shift 振 zhèn to shake, to wave 挽 wǎn to pull; to draw 捂 wǔ to cover or seal tightly 捅 tǒng to poke; to stab; to thrust 捆 kǔn to tie up; to bind with rope 捍 hàn to defend; to resist 捎 shāo to bring or pass along something incidentally 捏 niē to pinch (with thumb and fingers) 捞 lāo to fish out from water or liquid 捣 dǎo to pound downward with one end of a stick or rod 捶 chuí to beat or strike with a fist or club 掀 xiān lift off (a cover or lid) 掐 qiā to press with a fingernail; to pinch or snap off with the thumb and another finger 掘 jué to dig; to excavate 掠 lüè to plunder; to seize by force 掩 yǎn to cover; to conceal 掷 zhì to throw, to hurl, to fling 掺 chān to mix one thing into another; to blend 揉 róu to rub with the hand 揍 zòu (colloq.) to hit (someone) 揠 yà (lit.) to pull up; to uproot 揣 chuǎi to estimate; to conjecture; to ponder 揪 jiū to grip tightly; to grab and pull 揭 jiē (lit.) to raise high; to hold up 揽 lǎn to put one's arm around someone and draw them close 搀 chān to gently support someone (usually an elderly person) by the arm or hand 搁 gē to place in a certain position 搂 lǒu to embrace or hug with both arms 搅 jiǎo to disturb; to disrupt 搏 bó to fight; to combat hand-to-hand 搓 cuō to rub between the palms or roll between the hands 摊 tān to spread out; to lay flat 摧 cuī to destroy, to break apart 撇 piě to throw flat (skimming through the air) 撕 sī to tear apart with one's hands 撬 qiào to pry; to lever open by inserting a rod, knife, or awl into a crack or hole and forcing the other end 撰 zhuàn to write articles or books; to compose 撵 niǎn to expel, drive away 撼 hàn to shake; to rock 攒 zǎn to accumulate; to save up 攘 rǎng (lit.) to exclude; to repel

1.2 旨 zhǐ — delicious; tasty

旨 is a component in 3 characters

HSK 4

指 zhǐ finger

HSK 6

脂 zhī fat or oil from animal tissue or oil-bearing plant seeds

HSK 7

稽 jī to stay; to tarry

Stroke order

2 手 shǒu — hand (the part of the body below the wrist)

手 is a component in 10 characters

HSK 1

看 kàn to look at; to watch

HSK 2

拿 ná to hold, grasp, or move with the hand or other means

HSK 5

掌 zhǎng palm of the hand

HSK 6

拜 bài to bow or salute as a show of respect 摩 mó to rub; to move back and forth against something

HSK 7

拳 quán fist (fingers curled into a ball) 挚 zhì intimate, sincere 掰 bāi to split or break apart with one's hands 擎 qíng to lift up, raise 攀 pān to climb by gripping something

手 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.

Stroke order

3 画 huà — to draw or paint (with a brush or similar tool)

画 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

3.1 一 yī — the smallest positive integer; one (①used before a measure word ②used before a noun ③indicates a single action or a brief/tentative action)

一 is a component in 58 characters

HSK 1