比手画脚

比手畫腳
bǐshǒu-huàjiǎo
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 to gesticulate
  2. 2 to wave one's hands and feet around while talking

Examples

HSK 5
Tā búhuì shuō Yīngwén, zhǐnéng bǐshǒu-huàjiǎo hé wàiguórén gōutōng.
He doesn't speak English, so he can only communicate with foreigners by gesticulating.
HSK 5
Tā jiǎng gùshì de shíhou zǒngshì bǐshǒu-huàjiǎo, tèbié shēngdòng.
When she tells stories, she gestures vigorously - really animated.

Tips

mistakes
Also written 比手划脚 - both forms are accepted. Don't confuse with 指手画脚 (zhǐshǒuhuàjiǎo), which carries a critical tone of 'bossing others around with gestures'.

Stroke Order

比 bǐ
手 shǒu
画 huà
脚 jiǎo