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手册 (shǒu cè) — manual, handbook

Definition

手册 is a compact reference booklet on a specific topic (rules, procedures, an organization). More focused than 说明书, which pairs with a product and gives operating instructions.

noun
manualhandbook
Measure word · 本

Examples

  • 手册。
    Zhè běn shǒu cè jiè shào le gōng sī de guī zhāng zhì dù.
    This manual introduces the company's rules and regulations.
  • 手册。
    Xīn yuán gōng xū yào xiān xué xí shǒu cè cái néng kāi shǐ gōng zuò.
    New employees need to study the handbook first before starting work.
  • 手册。
    Àn zhào shǒu cè shàng de shuō míng cāo zuò jī qì.
    Operate the machine according to the instructions in the manual.

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
册cèbooklet

手 hand and 册 booklet: a booklet kept at 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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 冊; 册 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 冊 shows bamboo slips strung together, the pages of a book; the simplified 册 is a later shorthand.

Open 册 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Reading & Writing

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