联手

liánshǒu

lit. to join hands

HSK 7

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"联手" literally means "to join hands" and is used to describe two or more parties cooperating closely to achieve a common goal. It often implies a strategic alliance or collaboration, especially in business, politics, or social initiatives.

Common Contexts

This word is frequently used when companies, governments, or groups combine their efforts to tackle challenges or create new opportunities. It carries a positive connotation of teamwork and mutual support.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 联手合作 (join hands to cooperate): emphasizes working together closely.
  • 联手解决 (join hands to solve): used when collaborating to solve problems.
  • 联手推出 (join hands to launch): often used for jointly releasing products or policies.

Nuances

Using "联手" suggests a deliberate and formal cooperation rather than casual help. It is more formal than simply "一起" (together) and often appears in news reports or formal discussions.

Common Confusion

Do not confuse "联手" with "合作" (cooperate). While both imply working together, "联手" emphasizes the act of joining forces, often highlighting the unity and combined strength, whereas "合作" is a broader term for cooperation.

Example Sentences

两家公司决定联手开发新产品。

Liǎng jiā gōngsī juédìng liánshǒu kāifā xīn chǎnpǐn.

The two companies decided to join forces to develop a new product.

为了保护环境,政府和企业联手推出了多项绿色政策。

Wèile bǎohù huánjìng, zhèngfǔ hé qǐyè liánshǒu tuīchūle duō xiàng lǜsè

To protect the environment, the government and enterprises joined hands to

他们联手解决了社区的安全问题。

Tāmen liánshǒu jiějuéle shèqū de ānquán wèntí.

They joined forces to solve the community's safety issues.