Definition
拱手 is a traditional Chinese gesture of respect: you cup one hand in the other and raise them to chest level, often used in greetings, thanks, or apologies. It's a separable verb (离合词): the object 手 can split off from 拱 when aspect markers or measure words are inserted, e.g., 拱了拱手 ('cupped hands once') or 拱一次手 ('make the gesture once'). Figuratively, 拱手 can mean 'to yield submissively' or 'to give up without a fight', as in 拱手相让.
v.o.
(verb-object) to make a traditional Chinese gesture of respect by cupping one hand in the other in front of the chest(figurative) to yield submissivelyto give up without a fight
Examples
- ，。Tā xiàng lǎoshī gǒng le gǒng shǒu, biǎoshì gǎnxiè.He cupped his hands to the teacher to express thanks.
- ，拱手。Zài wǔshù biǎoyǎn kāishǐ qián, xuǎnshǒumen hùxiāng gǒng shǒu zhìyì.Before the martial arts performance began, the competitors greeted each other with cupped hands.
- 拱手。Tā gǒng shǒu bǎ jīhuì ràng gěi le biérén.He submissively gave the opportunity to someone else.
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