hand

JLPT N5

Character Breakdown

Basic Meaning

The word "" primarily means "hand," referring to the body part at the end of the arm. It is used literally to talk about physical hands, injuries, or actions involving hands.

Extended Uses

Beyond the literal meaning, "" often appears in expressions related to skill or ability, such as "手艺" (skill, craftsmanship). It can also be used in commands or requests involving hand movements, like "" (raise hand).

Common Collocations

  • 手艺 (skill, craftsmanship): emphasizes manual skill or talent.
  • (raise hand): common in classroom or meeting contexts.
  • 受伤 (injured hand): describes physical condition.

Usage Notes

When using "," it is important to distinguish between the physical hand and metaphorical uses related to skill or action. For example, "" implies having skill, not just a hand. Also, "" can be combined with verbs to form compound words describing hand-related actions.

Avoid confusing "" with similar body parts like "" (foot) or abstract terms like "手段" (means, method), which uses "" but has a more figurative meaning.

Example Sentences

His hand is injured and he can't write.

Please raise your hand.

He is a very skillful carpenter.