拍手称快 (pāi shǒu chēng kuài) — to clap and cheer (with satisfaction at a just outcome)

Definition

A four-character idiom meaning to clap one's hands in satisfaction at seeing justice served or a wrong punished. Used to express public approval of a just outcome.

idiom
to clap and cheer (with satisfaction at a just outcome)

Examples

  • ，拍手称快。
    Huài rén bèi zhuā, dà jiā dōu pāi shǒu chēng kuài.
    When the bad guy was caught, everyone clapped and cheered.
  • ，拍手称快。
    Fǎ yuàn pàn le nà ge tān guān zhòng xíng, bǎi xìng wú bù pāi shǒu chēng kuài.
    When the court gave that corrupt official a heavy sentence, the people all clapped and cheered.
  • ，拍手称快。
    Kàn dào hēi è shì lì bèi chǎn chú, shì mín men pāi shǒu chēng kuài.
    Seeing the criminal gangs eliminated, the citizens clapped and cheered.

Origin

Characters in this word

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
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
白
白bái拍pāi
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

拍 puts 手 (hand) beside 白, which gives the pronunciation.

Open 拍 →

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 稱; 称 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
禾禾hérice
Sound part声符shēngfú
爯
爯chēng稱chēng
Same sound today

The traditional form 稱 pairs 禾 (rice) with 爯, a part giving the sound; it is explained as measuring rice. The simplified 称 is a later shorthand.

Open 称 →

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
忄Written in full as心xīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
夬
夬guài快kuài
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

快 pairs the left part 忄 (full form 心, the heart) with the right part 夬, which gives the sound.

Open 快 →

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