手柄 (shǒu bǐng) — (noun) handle; grip (on a tool, device, container, etc.); (figurative noun) pretext; excuse; leverage (something used as a cause for criticism or action)

Definition

Literally 'hand-handle', 手柄 is a physical grip or controller (e.g. on a tool or gamepad). Figuratively, it means a 'handle' — a pretext or piece of leverage used to attack or criticize someone.

noun
handlegrip (on a tool, device, container, etc.)(figurative noun) pretextexcuseleverage (something used as a cause for criticism or action)
Measure word ·

Examples

  • 手柄
    Wǒ xǐ huan zhè ge yóu xì shǒu bǐng, wò qǐ lái hěn shū fu.
    I like this game controller; it feels comfortable to hold.
  • 手柄
    Nǐ zuì hǎo xiǎo xīn yì diǎn, bié gěi tā liú xià shǒu bǐng.
    You'd better be careful; don't give him a handle.
  • 手柄
    Tā bǎ zhè jiàn shì dàng zuò shǒu bǐng lái gōng jī duì shǒu.
    He used this matter as a handle to attack his opponent.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

bǐnghandle

手 is the hand, 柄 is the grip, so the word names a grip made for the hand.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

手 draws a five-fingered human hand: the top line is a bent middle finger, and the horizontal lines show the other four fingers.

Open 手 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
wood
Sound part声符shēngfú
bǐngbǐng
Same sound today

柄 shows a wooden handle: it combines 木 (wood) with 丙 for its sound.

Open 柄 →

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