DICTIONARY · CC-CEDICT

動手

简动手 · 繁動手

Mandarin · pinyin dòng shǒu

to set about (a task)
to raise a hand to hit sb
to touch; to handle (typically used in cautioning sb *not* to touch sth)

Full entryShow on map

Characters in this entry

動: dòng · move, happen; movement, action
手: shǒu · hand
动: dòng · move, happen; movement, action

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

Explore the spelling

Mandarin tones

4–3 · dong4 shou3

Compare attested words with these syllables ↗

Dictionary tones. Connected speech can change their realization.

Connected dictionary

3character links

Explore word families ↗Compare pronunciations ↗Open character structure ↗

Counts describe dictionary records, not word frequency or semantic similarity. Source identities stay separate.

Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

動手 · find source passages ↗ · 动手 · find source passages ↗

Explore Classical grammar ↗

Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 3 senses · 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

dung6 sau2

Cantonese word readings for 動手. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

CanCLID contributors · CC BY 4.0 · source & license · Data pack

Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

verb

to get started; to set about a task; to get to work
to touch (with the hand); to handle
to strike; to hit with the hands; to beat; to assault; to fight

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source & license · Data pack