抱拳

bàoquán

verb

Meanings

1 to cup one's fist in the other palm (a traditional Chinese salute)
2 to make the fist-and-palm gesture of respect

Characters

to hold / to embrace

Examples

HSK 4

群里有人帮我解决了问题，我发了个抱拳表情。

Qún lǐ yǒurén bāng wǒ jiějué le wèntí, wǒ fā le ge bàoquán biǎoqíng.

Someone in the group chat helped me out, so I sent a fist-cupping emoji back.

HSK 6

师父进门，徒弟们齐齐抱拳行礼。

Shīfu jìnmén, túdì men qíqí bàoquán xínglǐ.

As the master entered, the disciples in unison raised cupped fists in salute.

Tips

culture

The proper form is right fist wrapped by the left palm - left over right signals peace, the reverse signals mourning or a challenge. Ubiquitous in wuxia (武侠) drama and martial-arts schools. The 🙏 emoji is widely read on Chinese internet as 抱拳 (thanks / respect), not Western 'prayer'.

Stroke Order

抱 bào

拳 quán