空手 (kōng shǒu) — empty-handed; bringing nothing; unarmed; without weapons; without notes or reference (e.g., performing from memory)

Definition

Adverb meaning 'empty-handed, with nothing in hand' — used literally (bringing nothing, unarmed) and figuratively (without notes or a script). Often functions as a pre-verbal modifier: 空手来, 空手演讲.

adverb
empty-handedbringing nothingunarmedwithout weaponswithout notes or reference (e.g., performing from memory)

Examples

  • 空手。
    Tā kōng shǒu lái cān jiā wǎn huì.
    He came to the party empty-handed.
  • 空手。
    Tā kōng shǒu yǔ dǎi tú bó dòu.
    He fought the gangster unarmed.
  • 空手，。
    Tā kōng shǒu yǎn jiǎng, méi yǒu yòng gǎo zi.
    He gave a speech without notes, didn't use a script.

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.

空kōngempty
手shǒuhand

空 (empty) and 手 (hand) together mean empty-handed.

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
穴穴xuécave, hole
Sound part声符shēngfú
工
工gōng空kōng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

空 is built from 穴, a cave or hole, and 工, which gives the sound.

Open 空 →

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 →

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