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手中 (shǒu zhōng) — in the hand; in one's possession or control (literal or figurative)

Definition

Literally 'in the hand', 手中 is a slightly formal/literary way to say something is within one's grasp or control, often for power, fate, or authority. Compare with the more neutral 手里, which is the everyday spoken form.

noun
in the handin one's possession or control (literal or figurative)

Examples

  • 手中。
    Tā shǒu zhōng ná zhe yì běn shū.
    He is holding a book in his hand.
  • 手中。
    Gōng sī de mìng yùn zhǎng wò zài tā shǒu zhōng.
    The company's fate is in his hands.
  • 手中。
    Shèng lì jiù zài wǒ men shǒu zhōng.
    Victory is in our hands.

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.

手shǒuhand
中zhōnginside

“手” is hand, and “中” means inside, so the word indicates inside the hand.

Characters in this word

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 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The original picture showed a flagpole with a drum in the middle, set up in the center of a field.

Open 中 →
Appears in
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