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手法 (shǒu fǎ) — technique, method, skill (in a particular field)

Definition

手法 is a skilled, often professional technique — broader than 技巧 (a specific knack) and more about craft than 方法 (a general method). It can also mean a 'trick or tactic' when used in a negative sense.

noun
techniquemethodskill (in a particular field)

Examples

  • 手法。
    Zhè wèi huà jiā de shǒu fǎ hěn xì nì.
    This painter's technique is very delicate.
  • 手法。
    Tā de tóu lán shǒu fǎ hěn biāo zhǔn.
    His shooting technique is very standard.
  • 手法。
    Tā yòng le bú zhèng dāng de shǒu fǎ yíng dé bǐ sài.
    He used unfair tactics to win the game.

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
法fǎmethod

The idea of 手 paired with 法 gives a hand's method, i.e. a way of doing something.

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 →

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
廌廌zhìa type of antelope or caprid
Sound part声符shēngfú
盍
盍hé法fǎ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

法's older form combined 氵 (water) and 廌 (a type of antelope or caprid), with 盍 as a sound part; later 廌 was dropped.

Open 法 →
Appears in
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