指手画脚

zhǐ shǒu huà jiǎo

HSK 3.0 Level 7 Uncommon

Definitions

2 items

to gesticulate

Both involve pointing fingers and criticizing, but 指指点点 focuses more on gesturing of blame.

to come to blows

Refers to touching or groping inappropriately, a behavioral idiom with similar structure.

1 item

lit. to assess the head and discuss the feet (idiom); minute criticism of a woman's appearance

Both mean to criticize someone in a nitpicking or arrogant manner.

Often used with 对 (duì) to specify who is being criticized or ordered: 对别人指手画脚 (duì biérén zhǐ shǒu huà jiǎo).

Considered somewhat informal and often used in critical or negative contexts, such as to describe someone meddling or bossing others around.

1 shown

他总是喜欢对别人的工作指手画脚。

He always likes to criticize other people's work.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

hand

finger

foot

to draw