手表
wristwatch
shǒubiǎo
What does 手表 mean?
手表 (shǒubiǎo) is the noun for 'wristwatch' — literally 'hand-meter,' since 表 by itself is the general word for a meter or gauge. The compound 手表 distinguishes it from a wall clock (钟 zhōng) or pocket watch (怀表 huáibiǎo). Note that telling time and asking time use 点 (diǎn) and 几点 (jǐ diǎn), not 手表 directly — 手表 names the device, not the time it shows. The most natural measure word is 块 (kuài): 一块手表 'one watch,' likely because traditional watch faces were thought of as small 'pieces.' In modern conversation, smart watches are often called 智能手表 (zhìnéng shǒubiǎo) or just by brand name. 戴手表 (dài shǒubiǎo) 'to wear a watch' uses 戴 not 穿, because watches are accessories.
Character breakdown
hand
meter; gauge; surface; chart
Memory hook: A 'meter' (表) you wear on your 'hand' (手) — a wristwatch.
Measure word for 手表
Example sentences
这块手表是我爸爸送的。
Zhè kuài shǒubiǎo shì wǒ bàba sòng de.
This watch was a gift from my dad.
spoken
我想买一块新手表。
Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yí kuài xīn shǒubiǎo.
I want to buy a new watch.
neutral
他每天都戴手表。
Tā měi tiān dōu dài shǒubiǎo.
He wears a watch every day.
neutral
我的手表坏了，不知道现在几点。
Wǒ de shǒubiǎo huài le, bù zhīdào xiànzài jǐ diǎn.
My watch is broken, I don't know what time it is.
spoken
Common phrases with 手表
Synonyms
表 alone can mean 'watch' in casual speech but is ambiguous (it also means meter, chart, form). 手表 is unambiguous. Use 手表 unless context makes 表 obviously a watch.
腕表 is a slightly more formal/literary term using 腕 'wrist.' Common in advertising and luxury watch contexts. 手表 is the everyday word.
Don't confuse 手表 with
钟 is a clock (wall clock, alarm clock, bell). 手表 is specifically a wristwatch. A wall clock = 挂钟 (guàzhōng); an alarm clock = 闹钟 (nàozhōng).
手机 is 'cell phone' (literally 'hand-machine'). 手表 is 'wristwatch.' Both start with 手 but the second character is totally different — 表 (meter) vs 机 (machine).
表 by itself often means a chart, form, or table (e.g., 时间表 schedule, 表格 form). Only context tells you it's a watch. 手表 removes the ambiguity.