手里

手裡

shǒulǐ

noun HSK 4 #1,705

Meanings

1 in one's hands
2 in one's possession

Characters

Literally "inside the hand" — what one is holding or possessing.

Examples

他手里拿着一本书。

Tā shǒu lǐ ná zhe yī běn shū.

He is holding a book in his hand.

钥匙在你手里吗？

Yàoshi zài nǐ shǒu lǐ ma?

Do you have the keys?

权力掌握在人民手里。

Quánlì zhǎngwò zài rénmín shǒu lǐ.

Power is in the hands of the people.

Tips

grammar

手里 functions as a location word. Pattern: 在...手里 means "in someone's hands/possession."

Stroke Order

手 shǒu

里 lǐ