动手 (dòngshǒu) · to start work

动手 (dòngshǒu) means “to start work; to get going; to hit”. It is written with 2 characters: 动 (to move) + 手 (hand). It is an old HSK 6 word (HSK 2.0).

How 动手 is built

The characters

动 dòng · to move

What 动 is made of

云yún — cloud
- 二 — two strokes
  - 一 — horizontal stroke
  - 一 — horizontal stroke
- 厶sī — private
力lì — strength
- 丿 — falling stroke

Origin hint: strength (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)

手 shǒu · hand

What 手 is made of

手 is not built from smaller parts; it is written with 4 strokes.

Origin hint: A hand with the fingers splayed (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)

Example sentences

大家一起动手打扫房间。Dàjiā yìqǐ dòngshǒu dǎsǎo fángjiān.Everyone pitched in to clean the room.

有话好好说，别动手。Yǒu huà hǎohǎo shuō, bié dòngshǒu.Talk it out, don't get physical.

Questions about 动手

What does 动手 mean?

动手 (dòngshǒu) means “to start work; to get going; to hit”.

How do you pronounce 动手?

动手 is pronounced dòngshǒu.

Which HSK level is 动手?

动手 is in Old HSK 6.

Related words

Learn 动手 with its group

It is part of Old HSK 6 · Group 45: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.

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