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手
Character learning workspace

shǒu · hand

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 3.0 · Level 2Frequency #190
Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 手

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Step-by-step explorer

See how 手 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

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Character anatomy

Understand the reusable parts

The decomposition shows how the visual pieces fit together, not necessarily the character’s historical origin.

手
Complete decomposition unavailableThis character is currently indexed as a single visual form.
Writing notes

Shape and proportion

4Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Single bodyCharacter structure

Keep the whole form centered inside the writing square.

手Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 手 writing sheet

Get a ready-to-use A4 sheet immediately, or open the full builder to change its grid and guidance.

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Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 手

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

shǒuWords pronounced shǒu
shouWords pronounced shou
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 手 sits in each complete thought.

Nǐ de shǒu biǎo bǐ wǒ de guì.你的手表比我的贵。

Your watch is more expensive than mine.

Source: Tatoeba #481172 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Dàn yuàn wǒ shì yí gè hǎo gē shǒu.但愿我是一个好歌手。

I wish I were a good singer.

Source: Tatoeba #1415841 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ shì dòng shǒu néng lì qiáng de rén ma?你是动手能力强的人吗？

Are you a hands-on person?

Source: Tatoeba #8744705 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ bú shì tā de duì shǒu.你不是他的对手。

You're no match for him.

Source: Tatoeba #526544 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Bù, shì èr shǒu de.不，是二手的。

No, it's second-hand.

Source: Tatoeba #6017295 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ yào gēn nǐ fēn shǒu le.我要跟你分手了。

I want to break up with you.

Source: Tatoeba #8857225 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 手 in context

  1. Say shǒu, then recall the core meaning: hand.
  2. Write all 4 strokes while keeping the single body balanced.
  3. Use it in 手机 (shǒu jī), meaning “cell phone”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 手 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.