noun / verb HSK 4
palm (of hand) · sole (of foot) · to slap · to hold · to control
Meaning
掌 primarily refers to the palm of the hand or sole of the foot. As a verb, it means to control, manage, or hold in one's hand. The character shows a hand holding something, reflecting its core meaning of grasping or controlling.
Usage
掌 is commonly used in compounds rather than alone. When referring to the palm, you'll often hear 手掌. As a verb meaning 'to control,' it appears in formal contexts and compounds like 掌握 (to master) and 掌管 (to be in charge of). The slapping meaning is less common in modern usage.
Examples
- 01他已经掌握了这项技能。.He has already mastered this skill.
- 02观众们热烈鼓掌。.The audience applauded enthusiastically.
Common collocations
- 鼓掌to applaud; to clap
- 易如反掌as easy as turning over one's palm
- 了如指掌to know like the back of one's hand
Origin
The character combines 尚 (shàng, meaning 'still' or 'esteem') as the phonetic component with 手 (hand) as the semantic radical, representing the palm of the hand used to grasp and control things.