to shake hands
HSK level
握手 is written with 16 strokes (握: 12, 手: 4). The animation replays automatically.
握手 (wòshǒu) is a verb meaning 'to shake hands,' literally 'to grip the hand.'
It is a separable verb-object compound (离合词): you can split it, as in 握了握手 ('shook hands briefly') or 握一下手. Culturally it differs from the English act — in China a handshake is common in business, formal introductions, and ceremonies, but everyday greetings between friends usually involve no physical contact at all, just words. The grip is also typically lighter and briefer than a Western firm handshake.
Figuratively, 握手 can mean to reconcile or make peace, as in 握手言和 ('to shake hands and make up'). Because it is separable, learners often wrongly attach objects directly; you say 和他握手 ('shake hands with him'), never 握手他.
Note: Common in formal and business settings. Among Chinese friends and family, handshakes are far less routine than in the West, so 握手 mostly appears in professional, ceremonial, or first-meeting contexts.
Character by character
Memory hook: 握 (grasp) + 手 (hand) — grasp the hand: shake hands.
他们第一次见面就握手了。
Tāmen dì yī cì jiànmiàn jiù wòshǒu le.
They shook hands the first time they met.
neutral
请和这位客人握手。
Qǐng hé zhè wèi kèrén wòshǒu.
Please shake hands with this guest.
polite
两位老朋友紧紧握了握手。
Liǎng wèi lǎo péngyou jǐnjǐn wò le wò shǒu.
The two old friends shook hands warmly.
written
他们吵完架以后握手言和了。
Tāmen chǎo wán jià yǐhòu wòshǒu yánhé le.
After their argument they shook hands and made up.
neutral
拉手 means 'to hold hands' (as couples or children do), or the noun 'handle.' 握手 is a formal handshake greeting. Don't use 握手 for holding a partner's hand.
招手 means 'to wave (the hand)' to signal or greet from a distance. 握手 requires physical contact. Both contain 手 but describe different gestures.
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