二把手

èrbǎshǒu

noun #25,075

Meanings

1 second-in-command
2 deputy leader
3 number two

Characters

handful / measure word for grip/control

hand / person in a role

Examples

她是公司的二把手，负责日常运营。

Tā shì gōngsī de èrbǎshǒu, fùzé rìcháng yùnyíng.

She is the second-in-command of the company, responsible for daily operations.

一把手出差，二把手主持会议。

Yībǎshǒu chūchāi, èrbǎshǒu zhǔchí huìyì.

The top leader is away on a business trip, so the deputy is chairing the meeting.

Tips

usage

一把手 (yībǎshǒu) means the top leader, and 二把手 is the deputy. The 把 here is a measure word for 'handful' — metaphorically, how much power one holds. The pattern continues: 三把手 = third-in-command.

Stroke Order

二 èr

把 bǎ

手 shǒu