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March 24, 2026
挥(揮)huī(hui1)
The verb 挥 (huī) primarily means 'to wave' or 'to brandish,' often referring to the motion of moving something back and forth. It can also imply conducting an action or directing something, such as a command or a gesture. In various contexts, it can also connote the idea of scattering or dispersing something, such as waving away smoke or scattering seeds.
Strokes9Radical扌Frequency#4025DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the act of waving or gesturing can signify respect or invitation, particularly in tea ceremonies or martial arts, where the motion conveys both skill and respect towards others.
Memory Tip
Imagine a magician (挥) who waves their wand in the air, commanding attention. The character has a hand radical (扌), signifying action and movement, and the sound 'huī' could be remembered as the sound of a wand swishing through the air.
Meanings of 挥
huī(hui1)
1to wave
2to brandish
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 挥
挥Simplified
揮Traditional
9Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#4025Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5AdvancedBCT✓CEFRC2
Podcast: 挥
Podcast: 挥
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AI Study Notes for 挥
Quick Contrast
挥 (huī) vs 摆 (bǎi) — choose 挥 when emphasizing a waving motion or action, while 摆 focuses more on positioning or arranging.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a magician (挥) who waves their wand in the air, commanding attention. The character has a hand radical (扌), signifying action and movement, and the sound 'huī' could be remembered as the sound of a wand swishing through the air.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is to confuse 挥 with similar verbs like 拍 (pāi, to clap) or 打 (dǎ, to hit), which refer to different kinds of movement. While 挥 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, it is often used in commands or instructions. Be mindful of the tone; using the incorrect tone can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
At HSK Level 5, focusing on the various contexts in which 挥 can be used will help learners understand its nuances. It connects with other action verbs, so practicing with related words can enhance comprehension. Pay attention to sentence structures that involve commands or gestures.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the act of waving or gesturing can signify respect or invitation, particularly in tea ceremonies or martial arts, where the motion conveys both skill and respect towards others.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 挥 with the character 挥 (huī) meaning 'to wave' with the character 拍 (pāi) meaning 'to clap.' For example, saying '我挥手拍' instead of '我挥手' (I wave my hand) is incorrect; the correct usage is simply '我挥手.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 挥
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Grammar Patterns of 挥
挥 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 7 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.
Marlette was already out of the door, flagging down a taxi.
9
廖什克恼火地挥手让他离开。
liào shí kè nǎo huǒ dì huī shǒu ràng tā lí kāi。
Leshka waved him away with a show of irritation.
10
他正挥手以引起他们的注意。
tā zhèng huī shǒu yǐ yǐn qǐ tā mén de zhù yì。
He was waving his arms to draw their attention.
Cultural Notes for 挥
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, the act of waving or gesturing can signify respect or invitation, particularly in tea ceremonies or martial arts, where the motion conveys both skill and respect towards others.
Word Family of 挥
Words Containing This Character18
发挥fāhuīto display發揮
指挥zhǐhuīto conduct指揮
挥huīto wave揮
指挥官commander指揮官
挥手to wave (one's hand)揮手
挥舞to brandish揮舞
挥霍huīhuòextravagant揮霍
挥动to wave sth揮動
挥发volatile揮發
挥洒to sprinkle揮灑
指挥家conductor (music)指揮家
挥发性volatility揮發性
指挥棒baton指揮棒
挥泪to shed tears揮淚
挥汗如雨to drip with sweat揮汗如雨
挥金如土extravagant揮金如土
挥毫to write揮毫
借题发挥to use sth as a pretext to make a fuss借題發揮
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 发挥 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 挥
Common phrases that include 挥 are '挥手' (huī shǒu), meaning 'to wave one's hand,' and '挥发' (huīfā), meaning 'to evaporate.' These phrases illustrate the versatility of the character in expressing different actions.
挥 is pronounced as 'huī' in Mandarin. It has a rising tone, which is important for correct pronunciation and meaning in Chinese.
挥 (huī) means 'to wave' or 'to brandish.' It can also refer to conducting or commanding something, as well as scattering or dispersing. This character is commonly used in various contexts.
You can use 挥 in a sentence to describe the action of waving or brandishing something. For example, '他挥手告别' (tā huī shǒu gàobié) means 'he waved goodbye.' It's also used in contexts like '挥霍' (huīhuò), which means to squander.
You can say '挥手告别' (huī shǒu gàobié), meaning 'to wave goodbye.'
Yes, it can also mean 'to brandish' or 'to conduct,' depending on the context.
Yes, 挥 emphasizes a more dynamic or forceful motion, while 摆 usually refers to a more casual or decorative gesture.
