verb HSK 5
Traditional 脫手
tuō shǒu
to let go · to sell off · to get rid of · to slip from one's hand

Meaning

脱手 literally means 'to escape from the hand' and refers to something leaving one's possession or control. It can describe both intentional actions (selling or getting rid of something) and accidental ones (something slipping from your grasp). The word is commonly used in commercial contexts when discussing selling goods or property.

Usage

In business contexts, 脱手 often means successfully selling something, especially when it's been difficult to sell or you want to be rid of it. In physical contexts, it describes something accidentally slipping from your hand. The word carries a sense of finality—once something 脱手, it's no longer your concern or possession.

Examples

  1. 01
    这套房子在市场上很难脱手
    Zhè tào fángzi zài shìchǎng shàng hěn nán tuō shǒu.
    This property is very difficult to sell in the market.
  2. 02
    他终于把那批积压的货物脱手了。
    zhōngyú jīyā de huòwù tuō shǒu le.
    He finally managed to get rid of that batch of backlogged goods.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 顺利脱手
    shùn tuō shǒu
    to sell off smoothly
  • 难以脱手
    nán tuō shǒu
    difficult to sell
  • 脱手卖掉
    tuō shǒu mài diào
    to sell off

Antonyms

Origin

The word combines 脱 (to escape/shed) with 手 (hand), creating a vivid image of something leaving one's hand or possession.

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