10 Handy Chinese Idioms With Hand (手)

Completely helpless without options

Literal meaning: Bind hands no strategy

This idiom describes the state of having bound (束) hands (手) with no (无) available strategies (策), originating from Spring and Autumn period military texts. It first appeared in historical accounts of surrounded armies without escape routes or battle plans. The physical image of bound hands vividly ...

Extraordinary healing skill

Literal meaning: Skilled hands bring spring

This healing idiom praises marvelous (妙) hands (手) that can bring back (回) spring/life (春), originating from Tang Dynasty medical texts. It first described legendary physician Sun Simiao's ability to revive seemingly hopeless patients. The seasonal metaphor of spring representing renewal was particu...

Create effortlessly from mastery

Literal meaning: Trustingly hand plucks

This fluent idiom describes casually (信手) picking up or plucking (拈来) something with ease, originating from Tang Dynasty descriptions of master calligraphers and poets. It first described how accomplished artists could produce works spontaneously without preparation or strain. The character 信 convey...

Standards exceed abilities

Literal meaning: Eyes high hands low

This discrepant idiom contrasts high (高) eyes/standards (眼) with low (低) hands/abilities (手), originating from Ming Dynasty craft guilds. It described apprentices who could recognize quality work but lacked the skill to produce it themselves. The anatomical metaphor created a vivid image of the gap ...

Cherish something too much to put it down

Literal meaning: Love not release hand

Song Dynasty connoisseurs first used this phrase to describe loving something so much (爱) one cannot (不) release (释) it from hand (手). Their writings captured that special attachment collectors feel toward precious artifacts. Ming Dynasty poets expanded it to embrace emotional attachments beyond phy...

Many people busily working together in disorder

Literal meaning: Seven hands eight feet

Tang Dynasty temple construction projects gave birth to this vivid phrase describing numerous hands (七手) and feet (八脚) moving simultaneously. The image of multiple workers in confined spaces, creating organized chaos, resonated through the ages. Song Dynasty writers found humor in these scenes of we...

Use any means regardless of ethics

Literal meaning: Not choose methods

Tang Dynasty historians first used this phrase to criticize those who refuse to discriminate (不择) between different means (手段) in pursuing their goals. Song Dynasty Confucian scholars developed it into a broader ethical principle about ends never justifying means. The selective metaphor powerfully s...

To show off one's abilities

Literal meaning: Greatly display one's abilities

This idiom combines 'greatly display' (大显) with 'body and hands' (身手), where 'shenshou' represents one's physical abilities and skills. The phrase originated in martial arts contexts during the Ming Dynasty, describing warriors demonstrating their combat prowess. The theatrical element of 'display' ...

Build up from nothing; self-made

Literal meaning: White hands start a family/business

This idiom describes starting a family or business with white/empty (白) hands (手) - meaning no inherited wealth or resources. The phrase celebrates self-made success achieved through one's own efforts without external help or initial capital. It appeared in texts describing merchants and officials w...

At a loss; flustered

Literal meaning: Hands and feet without placement

This idiom describes hands (手) and feet (足) having no place (无措) to go - not knowing where to put one's limbs. The physical awkwardness represents mental confusion and panic. The phrase appeared in Confucian texts describing the discomfort of impropriety. It captures the paralysis of sudden confusio...