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解数 (xiè shù) — skill, technique (in martial arts or general ability); trick, strategy, clever move

Definition

A literary/formal noun for a 'trick, move, or technique' — usually in martial arts (武术) or clever tactics. The set phrase 浑身解数 means 'every trick in the book', so the word almost always appears in that idiom or in 武术 contexts.

noun
skilltechnique (in martial arts or general ability)trickstrategyclever move

Examples

  • 解数。
    Tā shǐ chū le hún shēn xiè shù lái yíng dé bǐ sài.
    He used all his skills to win the match.
  • 解数。
    Zhè wèi wǔ shù dà shī de xiè shù fēi cháng dú tè.
    This martial arts master's moves are very unique.
  • ，解数。
    Miàn duì kùn nan, tā yòng jìn le zì jǐ de xiè shù.
    Facing difficulties, he exhausted his own tricks and strategies.

Origin

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

解 shows 刀 (knife) separating 角 (horn) from 牛 (cow), giving the picture of cutting up an ox.

Open 解 →

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 數; 数 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攴攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
婁
婁lóu數shù(r)
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 數 pairs 攴, the meaning part, with 婁, the sound part; the simplified 数 is a shorthand.

Open 数 →
Appears in
Abstract Concepts

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