Meaning and Usage
"握手" (あくしゅ) means "handshake" and is commonly used to describe the act of shaking hands as a greeting or agreement. It is a polite and formal gesture often seen in social, business, and sports contexts.
Common Contexts
握手 is frequently used when meeting someone for the first time, concluding a business deal, or showing sportsmanship after a game. It symbolizes trust, respect, and mutual understanding.
Collocations and Patterns
- 握手をする: to shake hands
- 握手を交わす: to exchange handshakes (often used in formal or sports contexts)
- 握手を求める: to ask for a handshake
Register and Politeness
握手 is a neutral to polite term suitable for formal and informal situations. It is more common in business and formal social interactions than casual ones.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 握手 with other greetings like お辞儀 (bowing). Remember that 握手 specifically refers to the physical act of shaking hands, not other forms of greeting.