摇手 (yáo shǒu) — to wave one's hand (in disapproval or refusal)

Definition

摇手 is a separable verb meaning to wave one's hand side-to-side to refuse or reject something. It is a single deliberate gesture (≠ 挥手, a general wave to greet, signal, or say goodbye).

verb
to wave one's hand (in disapproval or refusal)

Examples

  • ，摇手。
    Tā zhòu le zhòu méi, qīng qīng de yáo shǒu.
    He frowned and gently waved his hand in disapproval.
  • ，摇手。
    Tīng dào zhè ge jiàn yì, tā lián máng yáo le yáo shǒu.
    Upon hearing this suggestion, she quickly waved her hand (to say no).
  • ，摇手。
    Dà jiā dōu tóng yì, zhǐ yǒu tā yí gè rén zài nà lǐ yáo shǒu jù jué.
    Everyone agreed, only he was there waving his hand in refusal.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

摇yáowave
手shǒuhand

摇 means wave or shake, and 手 is the hand being waved, yielding the gesture.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 摇 →

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 →

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