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March 24, 2026
手表(手錶)shǒubiǎo(shou3biao3)
手表 (shǒubiǎo) refers to a wristwatch, a timekeeping device worn on the wrist. It is commonly used in everyday contexts to tell time, often seen as a fashion accessory as well. The nuance includes both practical uses, like checking the time, and stylistic choices in personal attire.
Frequency#4003DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, wearing a wristwatch is not only practical but also a sign of punctuality and respect for others' time. High-quality or luxury watches are often given as gifts to signify status or appreciation.
Memory Tip
Imagine a hand (手, shǒu) holding a small clock (表, biǎo) on the wrist. The hand gripping the watch depicts the idea of wearing it, and the character for hand (手) sounds similar to 'show,' reminding you that it 'shows' time.
Meanings of 手表
shǒubiǎo(shou3biao3)
1wrist watch
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 手表
手表Simplified
手錶Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#4003Frequency Rank
块Measure Word
HSK 2.0L2HSK 3.0L2ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 手表
Podcast: 手表
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AI Study Notes for 手表
Quick Contrast
手表 (shǒubiǎo) vs 电子表 (diànzǐbiǎo) — use 手表 for traditional wristwatches, while 电子表 specifically refers to digital watches.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a hand (手, shǒu) holding a small clock (表, biǎo) on the wrist. The hand gripping the watch depicts the idea of wearing it, and the character for hand (手) sounds similar to 'show,' reminding you that it 'shows' time.
Usage Notes
Be careful with the measure word when using 手表; it is often paired with the word '块' (kuài) for informal contexts. In more formal situations, you could use '个' (gè). Avoid confusing it with related terms like '挂表' (guàbiǎo), which refers to wall clocks.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 2 word, 手表 connects to other everyday items and clothing vocabulary. Students should focus on pronunciation and the measure words commonly used with this term, as they are essential for constructing simple sentences.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, wearing a wristwatch is not only practical but also a sign of punctuality and respect for others' time. High-quality or luxury watches are often given as gifts to signify status or appreciation.
Common Mistakes
Learners often forget to use a measure word when referring to a watch, saying '我有手表' instead of '我有一块手表' (I have a wristwatch). Additionally, some might confuse it with 电子表 (diànzǐbiǎo), which specifically means 'digital watch.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 手表
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Grammar Patterns of 手表
手表 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
他握着她的____示问候，关切地问她一切是否都好。
He took her hand in greeting and asked solicitously how everything was.
Example Sentences for 手表 (10)
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1
他握着她的手表示问候，关切地问她一切是否都好。
tā wò zháo tā de shǒu biǎo shì wèn hòu， ， guān qiē dì wèn tā yī qiē shì fǒu dū。
He took her hand in greeting and asked solicitously how everything was.
2
你能从他们那儿买到质量很好的仿制名牌手表。
nǐ néng cóng tā mén nà ér mǎi dào zhì liáng hěn hǎo de fǎng zhì míng pái shǒu biǎo。
He glanced at his wristwatch. "I suppose we'd better make a move."
4
“14分钟,”克里斯瞥了一眼他的手表说道.
“14 “14 fēn,” zhōng ,” kè lǐ sī piē le yī yǎn tā de shǒu biǎo.
"Fourteen minutes," Chris said, taking a peep at his watch.
5
在监狱，他们把他的手表和其他一切东西都搜走了。
zài jiān yù， ， tā mén bǎ tā de shǒu biǎo hé qí tā yī qiē dōng xī dū sōu zǒu。
In prison they'd taken away his watch and everything he possessed.
6
出了门，布鲁斯瞥了一眼自己的手表，“天哪，快一点了。”
chū le mén， ， bù lǔ sī piē le yī yǎn zì jǐ de shǒu，“ biǎo ，“， tiān nǎ ， kuài。”
Outside, Bruce glanced at his watch: "Dear me, nearly oneo'clock."
7
我的手表显示快9点半了。
wǒ de shǒu biǎo xiǎn shì kuài9 9 diǎn bàn。
I make it nearly
8
我们试着给特德买了一块手表。
wǒ mén shì zháo gěi tè dé mǎi le yī kuài shǒu biǎo。
As an experiment, we bought Ted a watch.
9
我的手表不准, 快五分钟.
wǒ de shǒu biǎo bù zhǔn, , kuài wǔ fēn.
My watch is out of fix; it's five minutes fast.
10
将你的手表拨快些, 它慢了五分钟.
jiāng nǐ de shǒu biǎo bō kuài xiē, , tā màn le wǔ fēn.
Put your watch forward; it's five minutes slow.
Cultural Notes for 手表
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, wearing a wristwatch is not only practical but also a sign of punctuality and respect for others' time. High-quality or luxury watches are often given as gifts to signify status or appreciation.
Frequently Asked Questions about 手表
手表 refers specifically to wristwatches, while 钟表 refers to clocks in general, including wall clocks and other types.
You can ask, '你手表上几点了?' (What time does your watch show?).
Yes, 手表 includes both analog and digital watches, as it describes the form rather than the type of mechanism.
