打下手 (dǎxiàshǒu) means 'to assist' or 'to lend a hand' in a task or project. It often implies a supportive role rather than a leading one, commonly used in contexts where one person helps another in their work or responsibilities.
HSK 7, 24 strokes, Hard
dǎxiàshǒu(da3xia4shou3) T3
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May 27, 2026
打下手dǎxiàshǒu(da3xia4shou3)
打下手 (dǎxiàshǒu) means 'to assist' or 'to lend a hand' in a task or project. It often implies a supportive role rather than a leading one, commonly used in contexts where one person helps another in their work or responsibilities.
Strokes24Frequency#—DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, collaboration and helping others are highly valued, especially in work settings. The phrase reflects the communal spirit often emphasized in Chinese society.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person holding down a large object with their hand (下手) while another person works on it. Think of '打' (to hit) as the action of helping someone 'hit' their goals by assisting them, hence '打下手' means you're 'hitting' at the task together.
About 打下手
打下手Simplified
24Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 打下手
Podcast: 打下手
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AI Study Notes for 打下手
Quick Contrast
助手 (zhùshǒu) - use 打下手 when emphasizing a supportive role in a task, whereas 助手 implies a more formal assistant position.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person holding down a large object with their hand (下手) while another person works on it. Think of '打' (to hit) as the action of helping someone 'hit' their goals by assisting them, hence '打下手' means you're 'hitting' at the task together.
Usage Notes
This phrase is typically used in informal contexts. Be cautious with tone, as using it too formally can seem dismissive. A common collocation is '打下手帮忙' (to lend a hand).
HSK Study Tips
At HSK 7, focus on using this phrase in scenarios where teamwork is involved. Relate it to phrases about cooperation you may have learned, such as '合作' (to cooperate) and '帮助' (to help).
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, collaboration and helping others are highly valued, especially in work settings. The phrase reflects the communal spirit often emphasized in Chinese society.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 打下手 with more direct forms of assistance, like 帮忙, leading to phrases like '我打下手给你' (I assist for you), which should be '我帮你' (I help you).
AI-enhanced 2026-05-27
Pronunciation of 打下手
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Cultural Notes for 打下手
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, collaboration and helping others are highly valued, especially in work settings. The phrase reflects the communal spirit often emphasized in Chinese society.
Frequently Asked Questions about 打下手
It's better suited for informal situations; in formal contexts, consider using '协助' (xiézhù) instead.
Not exactly; while both mean to help, 打下手 emphasizes a supportive role in a task, while 帮忙 is more general.
