TongTong
Sign in

挥拳 (huī quán) — to throw a punch, to swing a fist

Definition

A vivid verb meaning to throw or swing a punch. Typically appears as 挥了一拳 or with a target ('挥拳朝/向/对 + person') — note it can split apart like a separable verb.

verb
to throw a punchto swing a fist

Examples

  • 挥拳。
    Tā shēng qì dì cháo wǒ huī quán.
    He angrily threw a punch at me.
  • 。
    Tā duì wǒ huī le yì quán.
    He threw a punch at me.
  • 挥拳，。
    Bié suí biàn huī quán, huì shāng dào rén de.
    Don't throw punches casually—you might hurt someone.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

挥huīswing
拳quánfist

挥 (swing) and 拳 (fist) combine: swing a fist as a punch.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 揮; 挥 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
軍
軍jūn揮huī
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 揮 pairs 扌 (hand) with 軍 as a sound part; the simplified 挥 is a shorthand, so its right side is not the historical component.

Open 挥 →

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
龹
龹龹拳quán
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

拳 pairs 手 (hand) with 龹 for sound. The hand part shows that the meaning is a form of hand, such as a fist.

Open 拳 →
Appears in
Conflict & Agreement

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.