下手

xiàshǒu

verb HSK 7 #3,205

Meanings

1 to start; to set about (doing something)
2 to strike; to make a move (often negative)

Characters

to put down; to apply

Literally 'put the hand down' — to put your hand to work, to take action.

Examples

我不知道从哪里下手。

Wǒ bù zhīdào cóng nǎlǐ xiàshǒu.

I don't know where to start.

他对她下不了手。

Tā duì tā xià bù liǎo shǒu.

He couldn't bring himself to harm her.

趁他不注意，赶紧下手。

Chèn tā bú zhùyì, gǎnjǐn xiàshǒu.

Act while he's not paying attention.

Tips

usage

下手 has a wide range from neutral ('where to begin') to sinister ('to attack/harm someone'). 下不了手 ('can't put the hand down') means being unable to bring yourself to do something cruel — it's a common line in dramas when a character hesitates to harm someone they care about.

Stroke Order

下 xià

手 shǒu