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挥舞 (huī wǔ) — to wave, to brandish

Definition

挥 (wave/brandish) + 舞 (to wield, as in literary 舞剑) compounds to 'wave, brandish', usually a tool, weapon, or flag. Stronger and more forceful than 招手 ('wave to beckon'); broader than 抡, which is a heavy two-handed swing.

verb
to waveto brandish

Examples

  • 挥舞。
    Tā xīng fèn dì xiàng guān zhòng huī wǔ shuāng shǒu.
    He excitedly waved his hands to the audience.
  • 挥舞。
    Qí shǒu zài fēng zhōng huī wǔ zhe guó qí.
    The flag-bearer waved the national flag in the wind.
  • 挥舞。
    Bú yào suí biàn huī wǔ dāo zi.
    Don't brandish a knife recklessly.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

挥huīwave
舞wǔwave or brandish

挥 and 舞 both relate to waving, together meaning to wave or brandish something.

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
舛舛chuǎnsteps, feet in convergent direction
Sound part声符shēngfú
無
無wú舞wǔ
Same sound today

舞 combines 舛, showing feet in converging steps, with 無 above. 無 gave the sound and also preserved its older meaning of dancing, so the shape points to dancing.

Open 舞 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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