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顺手 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
顺手shùnshǒueasilyHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #14618, Very Hard
顺手shùnshǒuwithout troubleHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #14618, Very Hard
顺手shùnshǒuwhile one is at itHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #14618, Very Hard
顺手shùnshǒuin passingHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #14618, Very Hard
顺手shùnshǒuhandyHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #14618, Very Hard
shùnshǒu(shun4shou3)shun shou T4
  1. 1easily
  2. 2without trouble
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March 24, 2026

顺手(順手)shùnshǒu(shun4shou3)

顺手 (shun4 shou3) refers to doing something easily or without trouble, often while accomplishing another task. It conveys the idea of convenience or efficiency, suggesting that an action is done seamlessly or as a natural extension of what one is already doing.

Strokes13Frequency#14618DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, efficiency and multitasking are highly valued, making '顺手' a common term in both professional and personal settings. It's often used to describe actions that save time or effort, reflecting a practical approach to daily life.

Memory tip

Imagine a skilled chef preparing a meal who can effortlessly chop vegetables (顺手) while simultaneously seasoning a dish. The character '顺' resembles a flowing river, symbolizing ease and smoothness, while '手' represents the hand, emphasizing the action being performed with dexterity.

Meanings of 顺手

shùnshǒu(shun4shou3)
1easily
2without trouble
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 顺手

顺手Simplified
順手Traditional
13Strokes
—Radical
副形词xíngróngcíadj-adverb (adj.-adv.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 顺手

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AI study notes for 顺手

Quick Contrast

顺利 (shùnlì) refers to something going smoothly or successfully, while 顺手 (shùnshǒu) emphasizes ease or convenience in the execution of a task.

Usage Notes

This term is used in both formal and informal contexts and often appears in everyday conversation. A common mistake is using it inappropriately with actions that require great effort, such as '顺手' for complex projects. Instead, use it for tasks that can be done easily.

HSK Study Tips

While '顺手' may not appear in the official HSK vocabulary lists, it is useful for learners at HSK 3 and above who want to express ease and convenience in their conversations. Students should focus on related words like '方便' (convenient) and practice using '顺手' in various sentence structures.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use '顺手' to describe actions that require significant effort, such as '我顺手完成了这个困难的项目' (I easily completed this difficult project). The correct usage should reflect ease, like '我顺手做了这个简单的工作' (I easily did this simple task).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 顺手

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Component characters

顺shùnto obey
HSK 59 strokes页
View full entry
手shǒuhand
HSK 24 strokes手
View full entry

How to say easily in Chinese

“easily” in Chinese is顺手shùnshǒu

顺手 (shun4 shou3) refers to doing something easily or without trouble, often while accomplishing another task. It conveys the idea of convenience or efficiency, suggesting that an action is done seamlessly or as a natural extension of what one is already doing.

When to use 顺手

This term is used in both formal and informal contexts and often appears in everyday conversation. A common mistake is using it inappropriately with actions that require great effort, such as '顺手' for complex projects. Instead, use it for tasks that can be done easily.

顺手 or something close to it

顺利 (shùnlì) refers to something going smoothly or successfully, while 顺手 (shùnshǒu) emphasizes ease or convenience in the execution of a task.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use '顺手' to describe actions that require significant effort, such as '我顺手完成了这个困难的项目' (I easily completed this difficult project). The correct usage should reflect ease, like '我顺手做了这个简单的工作' (I easily did this simple task).

Write 顺手

顺
手

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Frequently asked questions about 顺手

'顺手' is best reserved for tasks that are easy to accomplish; using it for difficult tasks would be incorrect.

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