手 shǒu — hand; convenient
饭前要洗手。Fàn qián yào xǐ shǒu.Wash your hands before eating.
Common words: 手机 (shǒu jī)、洗手间 (xǐ shǒu jiān)、手表 (shǒu biǎo)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "hand"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "hand", including 手 (shǒu), 右 (yòu). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words, and examples.
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "hand" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 手 (shǒu), 右 (yòu) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters do not share a sound — their readings span shǒu, yòu — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 手 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 手 shǒuhand; convenientUseful words: 手机, 洗手间
- 右 yòuright (-hand)Useful words: 右边, 左右
Common words for these 2 "hand" characters
Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 手 (shǒu) — so "hand" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 2 ways to say "hand".
右 yòu — right (-hand)
学校在你的右手边。Xué xiào zài nǐ de yòu shǒu biān.The school is on your right-hand side.
Common words: 右边 (yòu bian)、左右 (zuǒ yòu)、座右铭 (zuò yòu míng)
All 2 characters
Open 手、右 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.