举手
jǔshǒu
To raise your hand in Chinese is 举手 (jǔshǒu).
The phrase 举手 is the most common way to say 'raise your hand' in Chinese, typically used to signal a desire to speak or to vote.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 举 (jǔ), meaning 'to lift' or 'to raise' and 手 (shǒu), meaning 'hand'.
Which one should you use?
While 举手 is the standard form, 请举手 is a polite way to say 'please raise your hand'. 举一下手 emphasizes the action of raising one's hand, and 举手吧 conveys a friendly tone and can be translated as 'raise your hand, please.'
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase 举手 does not change its form to indicate plurality. The same form is used whether one person is raising one hand or many people are raising their hands.
How do you pronounce it?
jǔshǒu
Did you know?
- The phrase can be used metaphorically in the expression 举手之劳 (jǔshǒu zhī láo), which refers to a task that is so easy it requires only the slightest effort of a hand.
- In modern Chinese digital spaces like live-streams, 举手 refers to clicking a virtual icon rather than a physical gesture.
- The character 举 (jǔ) can also mean 'to organize' or 'to hold' an event, which is a completely different semantic direction than the physical act of lifting a limb.
Examples in context
- 我需要请听众举手表达意见。I would like to ask the audience to raise their hands and express their opinions.
- 如果你知道答案，请举手。If you know the answer, please raise your hand.
- 谁想参加这个活动，请举手。Shéi xiǎng cānjiā zhège huódòng, qǐng jǔshǒu.Whoever wants to join this activity, please raise your hand.
- 老师让大家举手发言。Lǎoshī ràng dàjiā jǔshǒu fāyán.The teacher asked everyone to raise their hands to speak.
Example conversation
A teacher and a student are in a classroom.
- 佳怡 Jiayi浩然，想回答的人请举手。Hàorán, xiǎng huídá de rén qǐng jǔshǒu.Haoran, please raise your hand if you want to answer.
- 浩然 Haoran老师，我已经举手了！Lǎoshī, wǒ yǐjīng jǔshǒu le!Teacher, I already raised my hand!
- 佳怡 Jiayi看到了，请你回答。Kàndào le, qǐng nǐ huídá.I see it, please answer.
- 浩然 Haoran正确答案是三个。Zhèngquè dá'àn shì sān gè.The correct answer is three.
