Usage and Nuances
The adjective 拿手 (ná shǒu) describes a person’s particular skill or expertise in a certain area, often implying something they do especially well or confidently. It is commonly used to talk about talents in cooking, academic subjects, sports, or any specialized skill.
Common Collocations
- 拿手菜 (ná shǒu cài): specialty dish, a dish someone cooks very well.
- 拿手科目 (ná shǒu kēmù): a subject one excels in.
- 拿手好戏 (ná shǒu hǎo xì): one’s best act or performance.
Usage Tips
拿手 is often used attributively before a noun to specify the area of expertise. It carries a positive tone and is informal but polite. It differs from 能干 or 擅长 in that 拿手 emphasizes a particular skill or specialty rather than general competence.
Common Confusion
Don’t confuse 拿手 with 拿 (to hold) or 手 (hand) separately. 拿手 as a compound means 'skilled at' and is not about physically holding something. Also, 拿手 is more colloquial and often used in spoken language.