二传手

二傳手

èrchuánshǒu

noun #33,556

Meanings

1 (volleyball) setter — the player who sets the ball for spikers
2 (figurative) middleman who relays information; a go-between

Characters

to pass; to transmit

hand; (suffix) -er, person skilled at

Examples

她是中国女排的二传手。

Tā shì Zhōngguó nǚpái de èrchuánshǒu.

She's the setter for the Chinese women's volleyball team.

他不是决策者，只是个二传手。

Tā bù shì juécèzhě, zhǐ shì gè èrchuánshǒu.

He isn't the decision-maker, just a middleman passing messages.

Tips

culture

Volleyball is hugely popular in China thanks to the legendary 中国女排 (women's national team), and 二传手 is one of the most-discussed positions. The figurative 'middleman' sense plays on the same image — someone who receives a message and passes it on, without originating or finalizing anything.

Stroke Order

二 èr

传 chuán

手 shǒu