Hanzi Alive!(7)

Tuesday, May 6, 2025

The Hand Code in Chinese characters: '手(shǒu)' is five open fingers, '友(yǒu)' is hands clasped together, '受(shòu)' is about giving and receiving, and '反(fǎn)' is a flipped palm. These four characters, with the same radical, reveal the philosophy of interaction between people.

手(shǒu)

Explanation:

  • "手(shǒu)" is a pictographic representation of a hand with five fingers. It has two written forms: "手" as a radical to create other characters and "手" on its own meaning "hand."

Example：

  • I write with my hand.  
    我用手写字。  
    Wǒ yòng shǒu xiě zì.  
  • Her hand is very clean.  
    她的手很干净。  
    Tā de shǒu hěn gān jìng.  

Find and circle "手" in the image:

友(yǒu)

Explanation:

  • The simplified form of "手(yǒu)" can be written as "u". Two hands together in the same direction symbolize one hand working while the other helps, forming the character "友" meaning "friend."

Example：

  • He is my good friend.  
    他是我的好朋友。  
    Tā shì wǒ de hǎo péng yǒu.  
  • Friendship is very important.  
    友谊很重要。  
    Yǒu yì hěn zhòng yào.  

Find  and circle"友" in the image:

受(shòu)

Explanation:

  • A hand receiving a plate-like object signifies,"受(shòu)", meaning "to receive."

Example：

  • He got injured.  
    他受伤了。  
    Tā shòu shāng le.  
  • She is very popular.  
    她很受欢迎。  
    Tā hěn shòu huān yíng.  

Find and circle "受" in the image:

反(fǎn)

Explanation:

  • A wavy line in front of a hand indicates the hand is turning something over, which is represented by "反(fǎn)" ."反(fǎn)" can mean "to disobey," "to disagree," or "to go against."

Example：

  • He is saying the opposite.  
    他说的是反话。  
    Tā shuō de shì fǎn huà.  
  • Don’t oppose the teacher.  
    不要反对老师。  
    Bú yào fǎn duì lǎo shī.  

 Find and circle  "反" in the image:

Now, when you write characters with the radical '手', remember: it can represent the warmth of friendship ('友'), the joy of giving ('受'), or the courage to change ('反'). The most beautiful secret in Chinese characters - components have their own language.

Sign up for a free trial now!

FAQ / Tips

We offer a 30-day money-back guarantee for all new students.If you are not satisfied with our services within the first month, you may cancel your lessons and receive a refund for any unused lessons.We will only charge you for the first month of lessons, and refund the remaining balance to you promptly.Our goal is to ensure your satisfaction with our services, and we strive to provide the highest quality of instruction and support to all of our students.
If you have any questions or concerns, you can send an email to: service @chineselearning.com.We have a team of professionals who will be happy to assist you with any issues as soon as possible.
Our teaching methodology is centered around our students and their individual learning objectives.We provide personalized learning plans, innovative and flexible teaching materials and methods, and strive to make learning Chinese a joyful and enjoyable experience.Our approach is designed to engage students and foster a deep understanding of the Chinese language, culture, and customs. We believe that learning should be fun and meaningful, and we work hard to ensure that every student enjoys their Chinese language learning journey with us.
Our instructors are highly skilled and experienced experts in Chinese language teaching, with proficiency in multiple languages. They hold at least a bachelor's degree in teaching Chinese as a foreign language, and possess extensive teaching experience and knowledge. Through a rigorous selection process and ongoing training, our instructors are equipped to provide students with authentic pronunciation, accurate language usage, and cultural background knowledge, all of which are essential for achieving mastery of the Chinese language.
Our Chinese learning method is focused on personalized and interactive one-on-one lessons with a professional teacher. The lessons are conducted live through our online teaching platform, which allows you to see and talk to the teacher. You can schedule the lessons at a time that suits you, and the teacher will tailor the lesson content to your specific needs and goals. During the lesson, you can ask questions and receive feedback from the teacher to ensure you understand and master the knowledge and skills being taught. We also have a student service team and academic coordinator team to assist you with your learning and provide any additional support you may need.Overall, our method is designed to be flexible, personalized, and interactive to help you achieve your language learning goals.
Yes, our website offers courses in both traditional and simplified Chinese characters. You can choose the character set that you want to learn based on your personal preference or learning goals.Our courses are designed to accommodate learners of all levels and backgrounds, so whether you are a beginner or an advanced learner, we have resources that can help you improve your Chinese language skills.