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携手 (xié shǒu) — to join hands; to collaborate; to work together

Definition

携手 emphasizes the image of two sides physically or symbolically joining hands, used for nations, organizations, or people facing challenges together. More literary than 合作; lighter than 联手 (join forces, often strategic).

verb
to join handsto collaborateto work together

Examples

  • 携手，。
    Liǎng jiā gōng sī xié shǒu hé zuò, kāi fā xīn chǎn pǐn.
    The two companies joined hands to develop new products.
  • 携手，。
    Tā men xié shǒu zǒu guò fēng yǔ, gǎn qíng gèng jiā shēn hòu.
    They walked hand in hand through storms, and their feelings grew deeper.
  • 携手。
    Gè guó yīng gāi xié shǒu yìng duì qì hòu biàn huà.
    All countries should join hands to address climate change.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

携xiétake
手shǒuhand

The action 携 is directed at 手, literally joining hands.

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
⺘Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
雟
雟guī携xié
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

携 pairs ⺘, a hand, with 雟, a sound part, to show carrying something hanging from the hand.

Open 携 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Friends & Social

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