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掌 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
掌
zhǎng
palm of the hand
v, 12 strokes, radical 手, rank #2700, Medium
掌
zhǎng
sole of the foot
v, 12 strokes, radical 手, rank #2700, Medium
掌
zhǎng
paw
v, 12 strokes, radical 手, rank #2700, Medium
掌
zhǎng
horseshoe
v, 12 strokes, radical 手, rank #2700, Medium
掌
zhǎng
to slap
v, 12 strokes, radical 手, rank #2700, Medium
掌
zhǎng
to hold in one's hand
v, 12 strokes, radical 手, rank #2700, Medium
掌
zhǎng
to wield
v, 12 strokes, radical 手, rank #2700, Medium
掌
zhǎng
in charge; the palm of the hand, the sole of the foot
v, 12 strokes, radical 手, rank #2700, Medium
zhǎng(zhang3)zhang T3
1palm of the hand
2sole of the foot
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March 24, 2026
掌zhǎng(zhang3)
The character 掌 (zhǎng) primarily refers to the palm of the hand or the sole of the foot. It can also denote actions such as to hold or to wield something, and is often used in a context implying authority or control, as in being 'in charge'. This character is versatile and can be seen in various compounds and phrases.
Strokes12Radical手Frequency#2700DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of '掌' extends to leadership and authority, often seen in idioms and phrases that emphasize the importance of having control over situations or people.
Memory tip
Imagine a giant palm (掌) holding a large object, symbolizing control and authority. The left part of the character (扌) is a hand radical, reminding you that it relates to the palm, while the right part (章) looks like a book, suggesting that you are 'holding' knowledge in your hands.
Meanings of 掌
zhǎng(zhang3)
1palm of the hand
2sole of the foot
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 掌
掌Simplified
12Strokes
手Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2700Frequency Rank
Podcast: 掌
Podcast: 掌
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AI study notes for 掌
Quick Contrast
掌 (zhǎng) vs 持 (chí) — use 掌 when emphasizing authority or control, while 持 focuses on the act of holding.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 掌 (zhǎng) with other similar characters like 手 (shǒu, hand) or 把 (bǎ, to hold), which can lead to incorrect usage. It is more commonly used in formal contexts when discussing authority or control, so be mindful of the register.
HSK Study Tips
Although 掌 is not included in the HSK levels, it is useful for intermediate learners as it connects to words like 手 (shǒu, hand) and 持 (chí, to hold). Focus on understanding its use in phrases related to control or authority to enhance your vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is to confuse 掌 (zhǎng) with 章 (zhāng), which means 'chapter' or 'badge'. For example, saying '我在写章' (wǒ zài xiě zhāng) instead of '我在写掌' (wǒ zài xiě zhǎng) while trying to express 'I am writing with authority' is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 掌
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 掌 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
掌 = 手 + 尚. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 掌
IDS Structure⿱尚手
掌Full character
=
尚Shang4
top
手shou3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 掌?
How to say palm of the hand in Chinese
“palm of the hand” in Chinese is掌zhǎng
The character 掌 (zhǎng) primarily refers to the palm of the hand or the sole of the foot. It can also denote actions such as to hold or to wield something, and is often used in a context implying authority or control, as in being 'in charge'. This character is versatile and can be seen in various compounds and phrases.
When to use 掌
Learners often confuse 掌 (zhǎng) with other similar characters like 手 (shǒu, hand) or 把 (bǎ, to hold), which can lead to incorrect usage. It is more commonly used in formal contexts when discussing authority or control, so be mindful of the register.
掌 or something close to it
掌 (zhǎng) vs 持 (chí) — use 掌 when emphasizing authority or control, while 持 focuses on the act of holding.
What learners get wrong
A common mistake is to confuse 掌 (zhǎng) with 章 (zhāng), which means 'chapter' or 'badge'. For example, saying '我在写章' (wǒ zài xiě zhāng) instead of '我在写掌' (wǒ zài xiě zhǎng) while trying to express 'I am writing with authority' is incorrect.
Write 掌
掌
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Practice writing 掌 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 掌
掌 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 8 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
It'sa bit tricky at first till you get the hang of it.
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Word Family of 掌
Compounds5
撑chēngto support
罉chēng
幥zhǎng
礃zhǎng
鐣chēng
Words containing this character20
掌握zhǎngwòto control
掌zhǎngpaw
掌声zhǎngshēngapplause掌聲
鼓掌gǔzhǎngto applaud
手掌shǒuzhǎngpalm
巴掌bāzhangpalm of the hand
掌管zhǎngguǎnin charge of
掌控zhǎngkòngto control
了如指掌liǎorúzhǐzhǎngto know sth like the back of one's hand (idiom)
掌权zhǎngquánbe in power掌權
击掌jīzhǎnghigh five擊掌
仙人掌xiānrénzhǎngcactus
掌柜zhǎngguìshopkeeper掌櫃
掌心zhǎngxīnhollow of the palm
易如反掌yìrúfǎnzhǎngno effort at all
执掌zhízhǎngto wield (power etc)執掌
掌舵zhǎngduòto steer (a ship)
熊掌xióngzhǎngbear paw (as food)
脚掌jiǎozhǎngthe sole of the foot腳掌
摩拳擦掌móquáncāzhǎngto roll up one's sleeves for battle
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 掌
What does 撑 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 掌
Yes, 掌 is used in idioms such as '掌中宝' (zhǎng zhōng bǎo), which translates to 'treasure in the palm', referring to someone or something very precious. This illustrates the character's significance in conveying value and importance.
Common phrases with 掌 include '掌声' (zhǎng shēng), which means 'applause', and '掌控' (zhǎng kòng), meaning 'to master' or 'to control'. These phrases highlight the versatility of the character in different contexts.
You can use 掌 (zhǎng) in sentences like '他的手掌很大' (tā de shǒu zhǎng hěn dà), which means 'His palm is very big.' It can also be used in expressions related to holding or control, such as '掌握' (zhǎng wò), meaning 'to grasp' or 'to control'.
掌 (zhǎng) primarily means 'palm' as in the palm of the hand, but it can also refer to the sole of the foot or a paw. Additionally, it can mean 'to hold' or 'to slap'. This character is often used in various contexts related to hands or holding.
You can say '掌握' (zhǎngwò), which means 'to grasp' or 'to master' something.
It's more commonly seen in written Chinese or formal speech, rather than in casual conversation.
Some examples include '掌声' (zhǎngshēng, applause) and '掌管' (zhǎngguǎn, to manage).
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