Word

棘手 (jí shǒu) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 7

Meaning of 棘手

形 xíng adjective

tricky, thorny, difficult to handle

这个问题很棘手，我们需要更多时间来解决。

zhè ge wèn tí hěn jí shǒu wǒ men xū yào gèng duō shí jiān lái jiě jué

This problem is tricky; we need more time to solve it.

Word breakdown

棘 jí — thorn, thorny - conveys difficulty and challenging nature

手 shǒu — hand - represents handling or dealing with something

1 手机 shǒu jī — mobile phone HSK 1
- 手 hand (indicating portability)
- 机 machine/device
Example

我的手机在桌子上。

wǒ de shǒu jī zài zhuō zi shàng

My mobile phone is on the table.
2 手表 shǒu biǎo — wristwatch HSK 2
- 手 hand, indicates worn on the wrist
- 表 watch, timepiece
Example

他买了一块新手表。

tā mǎi le yí kuài xīn shǒu biǎo

He bought a new wristwatch.
3 洗手间 xǐ shǒu jiān — restroom HSK 2
- 洗 wash
- 手 hand
- 间 room
Example

我去一下洗手间。

wǒ qù yí xià xǐ shǒu jiān

I'm going to the restroom for a moment.
4 歌手 gē shǒu — singer HSK 4
- 歌 song, singing
- 手 person skilled at, expert
Example

她是一位著名的歌手。

tā shì yí wèi zhù míng de gē shǒu

She is a famous singer.
5 二手 èr shǒu — secondhand HSK 5
- 二 second (ordinal)
- 手 hand (indicating previous ownership)
Example

我买了一辆二手车。

wǒ mǎi le yī liàng èr shǒu chē

I bought a secondhand car.

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6 分手 fēn shǒu — to break up HSK 5
- 分 to separate, to divide
- 手 hand (metaphorically letting go)
Example

他们去年分手了。

tā men qù nián fēn shǒu le

They broke up last year.
7 动手 dòng shǒu — to start work; to get to work; to take action HSK 5
- 动 to move; to take action
- 手 hand; hands
Example

我们现在就动手准备晚饭吧。

wǒ men xiàn zài jiù dòng shǒu zhǔn bèi wǎn fàn ba

Let's get started preparing dinner now.
8 对手 duì shǒu — opponent HSK 5
- 对 facing, opposite to, matched against
- 手 person (in competitive context)
Example

我们在比赛中遇到了强大的对手。

wǒ men zài bǐ sài zhōng yù dào le qiáng dà de duì shǒu

We encountered a powerful opponent in the competition.
9 手套 shǒu tào — glove HSK 5
- 手 hand
- 套 cover, case
Example

冬天很冷，我需要戴手套。

dōng tiān hěn lěng wǒ xū yào dài shǒu tào

Winter is very cold, I need to wear gloves.
10 手工 shǒu gōng — handicraft, handwork, manual work HSK 5
- 手 hand (manual aspect)
- 工 work, craft (skilled labor aspect)
Example

手工制作的东西更有价值。

shǒu gōng zhì zuò de dōng xi gèng yǒu jià zhí

Handmade things are more valuable.
11 手指 shǒu zhǐ — finger HSK 5
- 手 hand
- 指 finger
Example

她的手指很修长。

tā de shǒu zhǐ hěn xiū cháng

Her fingers are very slender.
12 手术 shǒu shù — surgery HSK 5
- 手 hand; represents the manual, hands-on aspect of surgical procedures
- 术 technique; refers to the technical skill and methodology involved in performing surgery
Example

他明天要做手术。

tā míng tiān yào zuò shǒu shù

He will have surgery tomorrow.
13 手段 shǒu duàn — means, method HSK 5
- 手 hand (metaphorically: tools or actions used)
- 段 segment, section (contributes to the idea of a method or approach)
Example

我们要用和平手段解决这个问题。

wǒ men yào yòng hé píng shǒu duàn jiě jué zhè ge wèn tí

We must use peaceful means to solve this problem.
14 手续 shǒu xù — procedures HSK 5
- 手 hand (metaphorically: handling, managing)
- 续 continue, sequence (the sequential steps in a process)
Example

办理出国手续需要很多时间。

bàn lǐ chū guó shǒu xù xū yào hěn duō shí jiān

Handling overseas travel procedures takes a lot of time.
15 握手 wò shǒu — shake hands HSK 5
- 握 to grasp, to hold
- 手 hand
Example

他们见面时握手了。

tā men jiàn miàn shí wò shǒu le

They shook hands when they met.
16 选手 xuǎn shǒu — contestant HSK 5
- 选 selected, chosen
- 手 person (skilled at something)
Example

这位选手获得了金牌。

zhè wèi xuǎn shǒu huò dé le jīn pái

This contestant won the gold medal.
17 随手 suí shǒu — conveniently, casually, without extra effort HSK 5
- 随 following along, conveniently, in passing
- 手 hand, indicating the ease and immediacy of the action
Example

请随手关门。

qǐng suí shǒu guān mén

Please close the door behind you.
18 助手 zhù shǒu — assistant HSK 6
- 助 help, assist
- 手 person who performs (the helping action)
Example

她在公司担任总经理的助手。

tā zài gōng sī dān rèn zǒng jīng lǐ de zhù shǒu

She works as the general manager's assistant at the company.
19 手势 shǒu shì — gesture HSK 6
- 手 hand
- 势 posture, position
Example

他做了一个友好的手势。

tā zuò le yí gè yǒu hǎo de shǒu shì

He made a friendly gesture.
20 手法 shǒu fǎ — technique HSK 6
- 手 hand; manual skill
- 法 method; way
Example

他的绘画手法很独特。

tā de huì huà shǒu fǎ hěn dú tè

His painting technique is very unique.
21 手臂 shǒu bì — arm HSK 6
- 手 hand (refers to the hand/manual aspect of the limb)
- 臂 arm (refers to the arm portion of the upper limb)
Example

他的手臂很强壮。

tā de shǒu bì hěn qiáng zhuàng

His arms are very strong.
22 招手 zhāo shǒu — to wave HSK 6
- 招 to beckon, to gesture, to summon
- 手 hand
Example

她在远处向我招手。

tā zài yuǎn chù xiàng wǒ zhāo shǒu

She waved to me from a distance.
23 高手 gāo shǒu — expert HSK 6
- 高 high-level, superior
- 手 hand, person with skill
Example

他是一位电脑高手。

tā shì yī wèi diàn nǎo gāo shǒu

He is a computer expert.
24 一手 yì shǒu — firsthand HSK 7
- 一 single, one, alone
- 手 hand, personally
Example

这些都是一手资料。

zhè xiē dōu shì yì shǒu zī liào

These are all firsthand materials.
25 下手 xià shǒu — to start doing something, to make a move, to strike HSK 7
- 下 down, to put down (initiating action)
- 手 hand (the instrument of action)
Example

这个项目很复杂，我不知道从哪里下手。

zhè ge xiàng mù hěn fù zá wǒ bù zhī dào cóng nǎ lǐ xià shǒu

This project is very complex, I don't know where to start.
26 两手 liǎng shǒu — both hands HSK 7
- 两 both, two
- 手 hand
Example

孩子用两手抱着玩具熊。

hái zi yòng liǎng shǒu bào zhe wán jù xióng

The child hugs the teddy bear with both hands.
27 亲手 qīn shǒu — personally, with one's own hands HSK 7
- 亲 personal, oneself
- 手 hand
Example

妈妈亲手缝制了这件衣服。

mā ma qīn shǒu féng zhì le zhè jiàn yī fu

Mom sewed this piece of clothing with her own hands.
28 人手 rén shǒu — manpower HSK 7
- 人 person, people
- 手 hand (metaphorically: work capacity)
Example

我们需要更多人手来完成这个项目。

wǒ men xū yào gèng duō rén shǒu lái wán chéng zhè ge xiàng mù

We need more manpower to complete this project.
29 伸手 shēn shǒu — to stretch out one's hand HSK 7
- 伸 to stretch, to extend
- 手 hand
Example

他伸手去拿桌上的书。

tā shēn shǒu qù ná zhuō shàng de shū

He reached out to get the book on the table.
30 入手 rù shǒu — to start with; to acquire HSK 7
- 入 to enter; to begin
- 手 hand; to handle
Example

学习中文要从基础入手。

xué xí zhōng wén yào cóng jī chǔ rù shǒu

Learning Chinese should start with the basics.
31 凶手 xiōng shǒu — murderer HSK 7
- 凶 violent, fierce, murderous
- 手 person who does, perpetrator
Example

警察正在寻找凶手。

jǐng chá zhèng zài xún zhǎo xiōng shǒu

The police are searching for the murderer.
32 出手 chū shǒu — to make a move; to take action; to strike HSK 7
- 出 to go out, to extend forth
- 手 hand, action
Example

遇到困难时，朋友们都出手帮忙。

yù dào kùn nán shí péng yǒu men dōu chū shǒu bāng máng

When encountering difficulties, friends all take action to help.
33 帮手 bāng shǒu — helper HSK 7
- 帮 help, assist
- 手 hand, person (who helps)
Example

他是我的好帮手。

tā shì wǒ de hǎo bāng shǒu

He is my good helper.
34 得心应手 dé xīn yìng shǒu — handy; with ease and skill; proficient HSK 7
- 得 to obtain; to achieve
- 心 heart; mind; intention
- 应 to respond; to correspond
- 手 hand; execution
Example

经过多年练习，她弹钢琴得心应手。

jīng guò duō nián liàn xí tā tán gāng qín dé xīn yìng shǒu

After years of practice, she plays the piano with ease and skill.
35 得手 dé shǒu — smooth, successful, going well HSK 7
- 得 to achieve, to obtain successfully
- 手 hand (metaphorically: in one's control/grasp)
Example

这次行动很得手。

zhè cì xíng dòng hěn dé shǒu

This operation went very smoothly.
36 心灵手巧 xīn líng shǒu qiǎo — clever-minded and deft-handed HSK 7
- 心 heart/mind (representing mental ability)
- 灵 clever/quick/nimble (modifies mind)
- 手 hand (representing manual skill)
- 巧 skillful/dexterous/clever (modifies hands)
Example

奶奶心灵手巧，会做各种手工艺品。

nǎi nai xīn líng shǒu qiǎo huì zuò gè zhǒng shǒu gōng yì pǐn

Grandma is clever-minded and deft-handed; she can make various handicrafts.
37 手册 shǒu cè — manual HSK 7
- 手 hand; indicates something portable or handheld
- 册 book, volume; indicates a bound document or publication
Example

请仔细阅读产品手册。

qǐng zǐ xì yuè dú chǎn pǐn shǒu cè

Please read the product manual carefully.
38 手动 shǒu dòng — manual HSK 7
- 手 hand
- 动 operate, move
Example

这辆车是手动挡的。

zhè liàng chē shì shǒu dòng dǎng de

This car has a manual transmission.
39 手头 shǒu tóu — on hand; at hand HSK 7
- 手 hand; represents possession or availability
- 头 suffix; combines with 手 to mean 'at hand' or 'available'
Example

我手头没有现金。

wǒ shǒu tóu méi yǒu xiàn jīn

I don't have cash on hand.
40 手帕 shǒu pà — handkerchief HSK 7
- 手 hand (indicating something used by hand)
- 帕 cloth/kerchief (the fabric material)
Example

奶奶总是随身带着一块手帕。

nǎi nai zǒng shì suí shēn dài zhe yī kuài shǒu pà

Grandma always carries a handkerchief with her.
41 手掌 shǒu zhǎng — palm HSK 7
- 手 hand
- 掌 palm (the flat inner surface)
Example

他把钥匙放在手掌上。

tā bǎ yào shi fàng zài shǒu zhǎng shàng

He placed the key on his palm.
42 手枪 shǒu qiāng — pistol HSK 7
- 手 hand (indicating a handheld weapon)
- 枪 gun (the firearm itself)
Example

警察拿出了手枪。

jǐng chá ná chū le shǒu qiāng

The police officer took out a pistol.
43 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.
44 手腕 shǒu wàn — wrist HSK 7
- 手 hand (indicating the hand/arm area)
- 腕 wrist (the specific joint between hand and forearm)
Example

他的手腕受伤了。

tā de shǒu wàn shòu shāng le

His wrist is injured.
45 手艺 shǒu yì — craftsmanship HSK 7
- 手 hand (represents manual/physical work)
- 艺 art/skill/craft (represents artistic or technical ability)
Example

他的木工手艺很好。

tā de mù gōng shǒu yì hěn hǎo

His woodworking craftsmanship is very good.
46 打下手 dǎ xià shǒu — to help out, to assist, to be an assistant HSK 7
- 打 to do, to perform (the action of helping)
- 下 lower, subordinate (indicating a helper's position)
- 手 hand, helper (one who lends a hand)
Example

我在厨房给妈妈打下手。

wǒ zài chú fáng gěi mā ma dǎ xià shǒu

I help out my mom in the kitchen.
47 把手 bǎ shǒu — handle HSK 7
- 把 to grasp, to hold
- 手 hand
Example

门的把手坏了。

mén de bǎ shǒu huài le

The door handle is broken.
48 拿手 ná shǒu — skilled at, be good at HSK 7
- 拿 to handle, to grasp
- 手 hand, skill
Example

他做饭很拿手。

tā zuò fàn hěn ná shǒu

He is very good at cooking.
49 指手画脚 zhǐ shǒu huà jiǎo — to gesticulate excessively; to boss around; to meddle HSK 7
- 指 to point (with finger)
- 手 hand (used in gesturing)
- 画 to draw/gesture (making movements)
- 脚 foot (suggesting excessive body movement)
Example

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.
50 接手 jiē shǒu — to take over HSK 7
- 接 to receive, to take
- 手 hand (implies handling or managing)
Example

他接手了这个项目。

tā jiē shǒu le zhè ge xiàng mù

He took over this project.
51 措手不及 cuò shǒu bù jí — caught off guard HSK 7
- 措 to handle, to manage
- 手 hand (representing readiness to act)
- 不 not
- 及 to reach, in time
Example

突如其来的暴雨让我们措手不及。

tū rú qí lái de bào yǔ ràng wǒ men cuò shǒu bù jí

The sudden rainstorm caught us off guard.
52 插手 chā shǒu — to interfere, to meddle HSK 7
- 插 to insert, to stick in; conveys the action of intruding or getting involved
- 手 hand; metaphorically represents one's involvement or participation
Example

这件事你不要插手。

zhè jiàn shì nǐ bú yào chā shǒu

Don't interfere in this matter.
53 携手 xié shǒu — to work together, to cooperate HSK 7
- 携 to join, to bring together
- 手 hand (representing cooperation)
Example

我们应该携手共创美好未来。

wǒ men yīng gāi xié shǒu gòng chuàng měi hǎo wèi lái

We should work together to create a better future.
54 新手 xīn shǒu — novice HSK 7
- 新 new
- 手 hand
Example

我是新手,还需要多练习。

wǒ shì xīn shǒu hái xū yào duō liàn xí

I'm a novice and still need a lot of practice.
55 杀手 shā shǒu — killer HSK 7
- 杀 to kill
- 手 person who does (the action)
Example

警方正在追捕那个杀手。

jǐng fāng zhèng zài zhuī bǔ nà ge shā shǒu

The police are pursuing that killer.
56 束手无策 shù shǒu wú cè — at a loss HSK 7
- 束 to bind, to tie (represents restraint)
- 手 hand (represents ability to act)
- 无 without, have no (negation)
- 策 strategy, plan (represents solution)
Example

面对这个难题，他束手无策。

miàn duì zhè ge nán tí tā shù shǒu wú cè

Facing this difficult problem, he was at a loss.
57 爱不释手 ài bù shì shǒu — love something so much that one can't put it down; fondle admiringly HSK 7
- 爱 love; expresses fondness and affection
- 不 not; negation particle
- 释 release, let go; to put down
- 手 hand; the physical hand
Example

她收到礼物后爱不释手，一直拿在手里欣赏。

tā shōu dào lǐ wù hòu ài bù shì shǒu yì zhí ná zài shǒu lǐ xīn shǎng

After receiving the gift, she loved it so much she couldn't put it down, holding it in her hands and admiring it.
58 着手 zhuó shǒu — to start; to set about HSK 7
- 着 to apply; to put into action
- 手 hand; taking action
Example

他打算下周着手写论文。

tā dǎ suàn xià zhōu zhuó shǒu xiě lùn wén

He plans to start writing his thesis next week.
59 第一手 dì yī shǒu — first-hand HSK 7
- 第 ordinal prefix (indicates order/sequence)
- 一 one, first
- 手 hand (represents direct transmission)
Example

这是第一手资料。

zhè shì dì yī shǒu zī liào

This is first-hand information.
60 联手 lián shǒu — join hands, cooperate HSK 7
- 联 unite, join together
- 手 hands (metaphor for cooperation)
Example

两家公司联手开发新产品。

liǎng jiā gōng sī lián shǒu kāi fā xīn chǎn pǐn

Two companies are joining hands to develop new products.
61 袖手旁观 xiù shǒu páng guān — stand by and watch; look on with folded arms HSK 7
- 袖 sleeve (metaphorically hiding hands)
- 手 hands (folded, inactive)
- 旁 side, beside (standing aside)
- 观 observe, watch (without acting)
Example

面对不公，我们不能袖手旁观。

miàn duì bù gōng wǒ men bù néng xiù shǒu páng guān

Facing injustice, we cannot stand by and watch.
62 顺手 shùn shǒu — conveniently; in passing HSK 7
- 顺 smooth, following naturally, conveniently
- 手 hand, suggesting physical ease of action
Example

我出门时顺手把垃圾带下去了。

wǒ chū mén shí shùn shǒu bǎ lā jī dài xià qù le

When I went out, I conveniently took the trash down with me.