Usage and Nuances
The adjective 拿手 (ná shǒu) describes a person’s particular skill or expertise in a certain area, often implying something they do especially well or confidently. It is commonly used to talk about talents in cooking, academic subjects, sports, or any specialized skill.
Common Collocations
- 拿手菜 (ná shǒu cài): specialty dish, a dish someone cooks very well.
- 拿手科目 (ná shǒu kēmù): a subject one excels in.
- 拿手好戏 (ná shǒu hǎo xì): one’s best act or performance.
Usage Tips
拿手 is often used attributively before a noun to specify the area of expertise. It carries a positive tone and is informal but polite. It differs from 能干 or 擅长 in that 拿手 emphasizes a particular skill or specialty rather than general competence.
Common Confusion
Don’t confuse 拿手 with 拿 (to hold) or 手 (hand) separately. 拿手 as a compound means 'skilled at' and is not about physically holding something. Also, 拿手 is more colloquial and often used in spoken language.
Usage and Nuances
The adjective 拿手 (ná shǒu) describes a person’s particular skill or expertise in a certain area, often implying something they do especially well or confidently. It is commonly used to talk about talents in cooking, academic subjects, sports, or any specialized skill.
Common Collocations
- 拿手菜 (ná shǒu cài): specialty dish, a dish someone cooks very well.
- 拿手科目 (ná shǒu kēmù): a subject one excels in.
- 拿手好戏 (ná shǒu hǎo xì): one’s best act or performance.
Usage Tips
拿手 is often used attributively before a noun to specify the area of expertise. It carries a positive tone and is informal but polite. It differs from 能干 or 擅长 in that 拿手 emphasizes a particular skill or specialty rather than general competence.
Common Confusion
Don’t confuse 拿手 with 拿 (to hold) or 手 (hand) separately. 拿手 as a compound means 'skilled at' and is not about physically holding something. Also, 拿手 is more colloquial and often used in spoken language.
Usage and Nuances
The adjective 拿手 (ná shǒu) describes a person’s particular skill or expertise in a certain area, often implying something they do especially well or confidently. It is commonly used to talk about talents in cooking, academic subjects, sports, or any specialized skill.
Common Collocations
- 拿手菜 (ná shǒu cài): specialty dish, a dish someone cooks very well.
- 拿手科目 (ná shǒu kēmù): a subject one excels in.
- 拿手好戏 (ná shǒu hǎo xì): one’s best act or performance.
Usage Tips
拿手 is often used attributively before a noun to specify the area of expertise. It carries a positive tone and is informal but polite. It differs from 能干 or 擅长 in that 拿手 emphasizes a particular skill or specialty rather than general competence.
Common Confusion
Don’t confuse 拿手 with 拿 (to hold) or 手 (hand) separately. 拿手 as a compound means 'skilled at' and is not about physically holding something. Also, 拿手 is more colloquial and often used in spoken language.