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顺手 (shùn shǒu) — (adjective) convenient and easy to handle; handy; (adverb) while one is at it; in passing

Definition

顺手 covers two uses: as an adjective, a tool or method that is 'handy/easy to use' (close to 方便); as an adverb, doing something extra 'while you're at it' — more casual than 顺便 and implies a natural, unforced extra action.

adjective
convenient and easy to handlehandy
adverb
while one is at itin passing

Examples

  • 顺手。
    Zhè zhī bǐ xiě qǐ lái hěn shùn shǒu.
    This pen writes very smoothly / is very handy.
  • 顺手。
    Nǐ chū qù de shí hou shùn shǒu bǎ lā jī rēng le.
    Take out the trash when you go out, while you're at it.
  • 顺手。
    Zhè ge ruǎn jiàn yòng qǐ lái hěn shùn shǒu.
    This software is very convenient to use.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

顺shùnfollow
手shǒuhand

顺 follow and 手 hand suggest something fitting the hand, hence easy or done while at it.

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 順; 顺 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
頁頁yè
Sound part声符shēngfú
川
川chuān順shùn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 順 pairs 川 (river), which gives the sound, with 頁 (head); the picture is a head in a river, following the current. The simplified 顺 is a shorthand.

Open 顺 →

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 7-9Good & Bad

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