一手

yī shǒu

CL 种 zhǒng 门 mén

HSK 3.0 Level 7 Noun Uncommon

Definitions

1. a skill
2. mastery of a trade
3. by oneself
4. without outside help

Word relationships

Antonyms

1 item

• 新手 xīn shǒu 新手 xīn shǒu new hand Novice, beginner; contrasts with having mastered a skill: new hand

Related words

1 item

• 独家 dú jiā 独家 dú jiā exclusive Meaning exclusive or one-of-a-kind, similar to having one's own special way: exclusive

Synonyms

2 items

• 手艺 shǒu yì 手艺 shǒu yì craftmanship When referring to a skill or craft, e.g., 他有一手好手艺 (He has a great skill): craftmanship
• 绝活 jué huó 绝活 jué huó specialty For exceptional skill or specialty, e.g., 这是他的绝活 (This is his special skill): specialty

Usage notes

Collocations

一手 is often used with 有 (yǒu) or 留 (liú) to mean 'have a skill' or 'keep a trick up one's sleeve', e.g., 他留了一手 (He kept a trick up his sleeve).

Common mistakes

Do not confuse 一手 (yī shǒu) meaning 'skill' with the literal meaning 'one hand'; the context must clarify the figurative sense.

Example Sentences

1 shown

他做菜有 一手 。

He is quite skilled at cooking.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 一手

• 第一手 第一手 dì yī shǒu: first-hand
• 一手包办 一手包办 yī shǒu bāo bàn: to take care of a matter all by oneself
• 一手交钱，一手交货 一手交钱，一手交货 yī shǒu jiāo qián , yī shǒu jiāo huò: lit. one hand exchanges the cash, the other the goods (idiom)
• 一手遮天 一手遮天 yī shǒu zhē tiān: lit. to hide the sky with one hand
• 有一手 有一手 yǒu yī shǒu: to have a skill
• 留一手 留一手 liú yī shǒu: not to divulge all one's trade secrets
• 露一手 露一手 lòu yī shǒu: to show off one's abilities

Child Words of 一手

• 一 一 yī: one
• 手 手 shǒu: hand