动手
Traditional: 動手
dòng shǒu HSK 6

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

他们决定明天动手装修房子。
Tāmen juédìng míngtiān dòngshǒu zhuāngxiū fángzi.
They decided to start renovating the house tomorrow.
工人罢工,拒绝动手工作。
Gōngrén bàgōng, jùjué dòngshǒu gōngzuò.
The workers went on strike and refused to start work.
他动手修理坏了的自行车。
Tā dòngshǒu xiūlǐ huàile de zìxíngchē.
He started repairing the broken bicycle.
我们动手吧。
Wǒmen dòngshǒu ba.
Let's start work.
他动手做饭。
Tā dòngshǒu zuòfàn.
He starts cooking.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of 动 (dòng, 'to move') + 手 (shǒu, 'hand') = 'move your hands' to start doing something or, negatively, 'move hands against someone' to hit.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is neutral in formality and common in both spoken and written Chinese. It is frequently used in everyday situations to encourage self-reliance, such as DIY tasks, repairs, or starting a project. The aggressive meaning ('to hit') is more informal and context-dependent.

📖 Grammar Points

Often used with modal verbs like 要, 可以, or 应该 (e.g., 要自己动手). Can be followed by a verb to indicate the action (e.g., 动手修理, 'to start repairing'). In the aggressive sense, it may be used with 跟 or 和 to indicate the target (e.g., 跟他动手).

🏯 Cultural Notes

Reflects a cultural value of self-reliance and practicality, as seen in phrases like 自己动手,丰衣足食 ('if you work with your own hands, you'll have plenty'). The aggressive use aligns with social norms discouraging physical conflict.

🔄 Similar Words

Compared to 开始 (kāishǐ, 'to start'), 动手 emphasizes physical or hands-on action. Unlike 打 (dǎ, 'to hit'), 动手 as 'to hit' often implies a mutual or escalated fight rather than a one-sided strike.

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