Word

鼓掌 (gǔ zhǎng) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 5

Meaning of 鼓掌

动 dòng verb

to applaud

听完演讲后，大家热烈鼓掌。

tīng wán yǎn jiǎng hòu dà jiā rè liè gǔ zhǎng

After listening to the speech, everyone applauded warmly.

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Word breakdown

鼓 gǔ — to beat, to strike (like beating a drum)

1 鼓励 gǔ lì — encourage HSK 4
- 鼓 to rouse, to stir up
- 励 to motivate, to urge
Example

老师鼓励学生努力学习。

lǎo shī gǔ lì xué shēng nǔ lì xué xí

The teacher encourages the students to study hard.
2 鼓舞 gǔ wǔ — to inspire, to encourage HSK 6
- 鼓 to rouse, to stimulate
- 舞 to uplift, to inspire spirit
Example

他的成功鼓舞了很多年轻人。

tā de chéng gōng gǔ wǔ le hěn duō nián qīng rén

His success inspired many young people.
3 一鼓作气 yì gǔ zuò qì — to accomplish in one vigorous effort HSK 7
- 一 one, first
- 鼓 drum
- 作 to rouse, to stir up
- 气 spirit, morale, energy
Example

他一鼓作气跑完了全程马拉松。

tā yì gǔ zuò qì pǎo wán le quán chéng mǎ lā sōng

He completed the entire marathon in one vigorous effort.
4 鼓动 gǔ dòng — to instigate, to incite, to agitate HSK 7
- 鼓 to rouse, to stir up
- 动 to move, to mobilize into action
Example

他鼓动大家一起去抗议。

tā gǔ dòng dà jiā yì qǐ qù kàng yì

He instigated everyone to protest together.

掌 zhǎng — palm (of the hand)

1 掌声 zhǎng shēng — applause HSK 5
- 掌 palm (the part of the hand that claps)
- 声 sound (the noise produced by clapping)
Example

台下响起了雷鸣般的掌声。

tái xià xiǎng qǐ le léi míng bān de zhǎng shēng

Thunderous applause rang out from the audience.
2 掌握 zhǎng wò — to master, to grasp HSK 5
- 掌 to hold in palm, to control
- 握 to grasp, to hold firmly
Example

他掌握了三门外语。

tā zhǎng wò le sān mén wài yǔ

He has mastered three foreign languages.
3 巴掌 bā zhǎng — slap HSK 7
- 巴 colloquial prefix suggesting physical contact
- 掌 palm (of the hand)
Example

她生气地给了他一巴掌。

tā shēng qì de gěi le tā yī bā zhǎng

She angrily gave him a slap.
4 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.
5 掌管 zhǎng guǎn — to be in charge of; to administer HSK 7
- 掌 to control; to be in charge (literally 'palm', extended to mean 'to hold in one's hand')
- 管 to manage; to administer; to oversee
Example

他掌管公司的财务部门。

tā zhǎng guǎn gōng sī de cái wù bù mén

He is in charge of the company's finance department.

Structure & writing

1 鼓 gǔ — drum (percussion instrument, cylindrical, with one or two drumheads)

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

consists of

1.1 壴 zhù — musical instruments displayed and visible on a stand

壴 is a component in 3 characters

HSK 1

喜 xǐ happy; joyful (opposite of 悲)

HSK 4

鼓 gǔ drum (percussion instrument, cylindrical, with one or two drumheads)

HSK 5

嘉 jiā beautiful; excellent

1.2 支 zhī — to prop up; to support

支 is a component in 6 characters

HSK 4

技 jì skill, craft 鼓 gǔ drum (percussion instrument, cylindrical, with one or two drumheads)

HSK 5

翅 chì wing (of insects or birds)

HSK 6

枝 zhī branch (of a plant)

HSK 7

歧 qí forked (road); branching off from a main road 肢 zhī limb (arm or leg of a person, or leg of certain animals)

Stroke order

2 掌 zhǎng — palm of the hand

掌 is a component in 1 characters

HSK 6

撑 chēng prop up, support

consists of

2.1 尚 shàng — to revere; to value highly

尚 is a component in 12 characters

HSK 1

常 cháng ordinary, common, general

HSK 3

尝 cháng to taste; to sample food

HSK 4

堂 táng main hall; large imposing room 趟 tàng measure word for trips or journeys (round trips, comings and goings) 躺 tǎng to lie down (of a person on a surface, or of a vehicle/object tipped over)

HSK 5

掌 zhǎng palm of the hand 赏 shǎng to bestow gifts or money upon a subordinate or junior

HSK 7

倘 tǎng if; supposing that 党 dǎng political party; in China, specifically refers to the Communist Party of China 敞 chǎng (of buildings, courtyards, etc.) spacious and open; unobstructed 淌 tǎng （of liquid）to flow down, to trickle 裳 shang clothing; used in "衣裳"

2.2 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

Stroke order