When we say something is 顺手 (shùn shǒu), it means it's really easy and convenient to do.
Imagine you're walking past a door and you just naturally reach out and close it. That's 顺手! It's like doing something effortlessly because it's right there or it just makes sense.
It often implies doing something incidentally, without extra effort, because it's convenient at that moment.
When we say something is 顺手 (shùn shǒu), we mean it's handy or convenient. Think of it like this: if an object is 顺手, it's easy to reach and use without much effort. You can also use it to describe an action that's easy or natural to do in a given situation. It often implies that something fits well with what you're already doing or where you are. So, when you hear 顺手, think 'convenient' and 'effortless.'
顺手 in 30 Sekunden
- conveniently
- along the way
- take the opportunity
Beispiele nach Niveau
我顺手就把垃圾扔进垃圾桶了。
I handily/conveniently threw the trash into the trash can.
他路过超市，顺手买了一些菜。
He passed by the supermarket and conveniently bought some groceries.
你出门的时候，顺手帮我把门关上。
When you go out, conveniently help me close the door.
这个工具用起来很顺手。
This tool is very handy/convenient to use.
她顺手把书包放在了桌子上。
She handily placed her backpack on the table.
我顺手就帮他解决了这个问题。
I conveniently helped him solve this problem.
去邮局的时候，顺手把这封信寄了。
When you go to the post office, conveniently mail this letter.
他顺手拿起笔，开始写字。
He handily picked up the pen and started writing.
Wird oft verwechselt mit
This Vietnamese phrase is a direct cognate and shares a similar meaning of 'handy' or 'convenient to one's hand/reach'.
While not a direct cognate, 手軽 in Japanese also conveys a similar sense of 'easy', 'simple', or 'handy' to do, particularly for everyday tasks.
The English idiom 'on the way' or 'while you're at it' often captures the 'incidentally' or 'conveniently' aspect of 顺手.
Leicht verwechselbar
Both 顺手 and 方便 relate to convenience, but 方便 is a broader term for 'convenient' in general, while 顺手 focuses on something being convenient because it's 'on the way' or 'easy to do with minimal effort'.
方便 describes general convenience. 顺手 implies doing something easily as part of another action or because it's readily accessible.
你可以顺手把垃圾带下去吗？ (Can you conveniently/while you're at it take the trash downstairs?) vs. 这家餐厅很方便，就在我家旁边。(This restaurant is very convenient, it's right next to my house.)
Both 顺手 and 顺便 mean 'while you're at it' or 'on the way', but 顺便 typically refers to doing an additional action during a main activity, whereas 顺手 often refers to an object or tool being convenient to use.
顺便 emphasizes doing something 'by the way' or 'incidentally' during another task. 顺手 can also mean 'by the way', but it more strongly implies ease or convenience in using an object or performing a small action.
我下楼的时候，顺便去一下超市。(When I go downstairs, I'll go to the supermarket by the way.) vs. 这把剪刀很顺手，用起来很方便。(These scissors are very handy/easy to use, they're very convenient to use.)
趁手 also means 'handy' or 'convenient to use', especially for tools or objects. The confusion arises because both imply ease of use.
趁手 specifically focuses on an object or tool being 'handy' or 'suitable for one's hand'. 顺手 is broader and can refer to an action being easy or something being conveniently located.
这把螺丝刀很趁手，用起来很舒服。(This screwdriver is very handy/fits well in the hand, it's comfortable to use.) vs. 顺手把门关上。(Close the door conveniently/while you're at it.)
容易 means 'easy' or 'simple'. While 顺手 implies ease, it's not a direct synonym for 'easy' in all contexts.
容易 describes the general difficulty of a task. 顺手 describes the convenience or ease of an action or object in a specific context, often implying minimal extra effort.
这个问题很容易。(This question is very easy.) vs. 顺手帮我拿一下那个包。(Conveniently/while you're at it, help me grab that bag.)
This is a common beginner mistake due to the '方便' component. '方便面' means 'instant noodles' and has no direct relation to 顺手.
方便面 is a specific type of food. 顺手 is an adverb describing convenience or ease of action.
我喜欢吃方便面。(I like to eat instant noodles.) vs. 他顺手把灯关了。(He conveniently/while he was at it turned off the light.)
So verwendest du es
How to use 顺手 (shùn shǒu) correctly
顺手 (shùn shǒu) is an adverb that literally means "smooth hand." It's used to describe actions that are done easily, conveniently, or without extra effort because they fit naturally with what you're already doing or where you are.
- Convenience of action: You often use 顺手 when an action can be performed easily because it's on your way or part of an existing routine. For example, if you're going to the kitchen, it's 顺手 to take your empty cup with you.
- Naturalness of action: It can also describe something that feels natural or intuitive to do, like picking up something that's right beside you.
- Often paired with verbs: 顺手 usually precedes the verb it modifies.
Examples:
Example 1:
我去厨房，可以顺手把垃圾倒了吗？
Wǒ qù chúfáng, kěyǐ shùnshǒu bǎ lājī dào le ma?
(I'm going to the kitchen, can I conveniently/while I'm at it take out the trash?)
Example 2:
你过来的时候，顺手帮我拿一下那本书。
Nǐ guòlái de shíhou, shùnshǒu bāng wǒ ná yīxià nà běn shū.
(When you come over, could you conveniently/while you're at it help me grab that book?)
Example 3:
这支笔用起来很顺手。
Zhè zhī bǐ yòng qǐlái hěn shùnshǒu.
(This pen is very handy/comfortable to use.)
Common mistakes with 顺手 (shùn shǒu)
- Confusing it with "easy" or "simple": While 顺手 implies ease, it specifically refers to ease due to convenience or natural flow, not just general simplicity. Don't use it to describe a task that's generally easy but doesn't fit the "on the way" or "natural fit" criteria.
- Using it as an adjective for objects in all contexts: While you can say a tool is 顺手 (handy to use), you wouldn't use it to describe an object as "convenient" in a broader sense, like "a convenient store." For that, you'd use 方便 (fāngbiàn).
- Incorrect placement in a sentence: Remember, 顺手 typically acts as an adverb before the verb. Placing it elsewhere can sound unnatural.
Mistake 1: Using 顺手 for general ease instead of convenience
Incorrect: 这个考试很顺手。 (Zhège kǎoshì hěn shùnshǒu.)
(This exam was very handy/convenient.)
Why it's wrong: An exam isn't "handy" or "convenient" in the sense of being on your way or naturally flowing. You mean it was easy.
Correct: 这个考试很简单。 (Zhège kǎoshì hěn jiǎndān.)
(This exam was very simple/easy.)
Mistake 2: Using 顺手 for general convenience of a place or thing
Incorrect: 附近有一个顺手的商店。
Fùjìn yǒu yīgè shùnshǒu de shāngdiàn.
(There's a handy store nearby.)
Why it's wrong: Here you mean a convenient store. 顺手 doesn't describe the general convenience of a place.
Correct: 附近有一个方便的商店。
Fùjìn yǒu yīgè fāngbiàn de shāngdiàn.
(There's a convenient store nearby.)
Teste dich selbst 30 Fragen
Which action shows something is 顺手?
Picking up a dropped pen while standing up is easy and convenient, matching the meaning of 顺手.
If your friend asks you to close the window, and it's right next to you, you would say:
很顺手 (Hěn shùnshǒu!) means 'very handy/convenient', which fits the situation of the window being right next to you.
What does 顺手 mean when you say '这个工具很顺手'?
When describing a tool, 顺手 means it's convenient and easy to handle or use.
If your phone is on the table right in front of you, it is 顺手 to pick it up.
Yes, if something is right in front of you, it's convenient and easy to pick up, fitting the meaning of 顺手.
If you have to climb a ladder to get something, it is 顺手.
No, climbing a ladder is not usually considered convenient or easy, so it would not be described as 顺手.
You can use 顺手 to describe a task that is difficult to complete.
No, 顺手 is used for things that are easy or convenient, not difficult.
This sentence means 'He conveniently closed the door.' The order is 'Subject + 顺手 + Verb + Object'.
This sentence means 'I conveniently brought a pen.' The structure is 'Subject + 顺手 + Verb + 了 + Object'.
This sentence means 'Can you conveniently help me?' The structure is 'Subject + 可以 + 顺手 + Verb + Object + 吗？'.
Choose the best translation for '顺手' in this sentence: '我顺手就把垃圾扔了。'
顺手 indicates the action was done because it was convenient or an easy addition to another task, not necessarily on purpose, angrily, or quickly.
Which sentence uses '顺手' correctly?
'请顺手把灯打开' means 'Please turn on the light conveniently/while you're there'. '顺手' describes an action, not a state of being or an expensive item. '买车' is usually a deliberate action, not '顺手'.
What does '顺手牵羊' mean?
顺手牵羊 is an idiom meaning to pilfer or take something illicitly when an opportunity arises.
'顺手' can be used to describe something that is easy to use.
Yes, '顺手' can mean 'handy' or 'easy to use' in the context of an object, like '这支笔很顺手' (This pen is very handy/easy to use).
You can say '我顺手累了' (I am conveniently tired).
'顺手' describes an action that is done conveniently or as an easy side task. It doesn't describe a state of being like 'tired'.
When you leave, if you '顺手' close the door, it means you closed it without much extra effort because you were already leaving.
This is a perfect example of '顺手'. It implies doing something as a natural, unforced action because it's convenient or fits into one's current activity.
“顺手”可以作为状语，放在动词“帮”前面，表示在做某事的同时做另一件方便的小事。
“顺手”修饰动词“关上”，表示顺便、方便地做某事。
“顺手”在这里形容东西用起来很方便、称手。
What should be done when going downstairs?
What did he do for his colleague?
What is the speaker asking for?
Read this aloud:
请你顺手把灯关了。
Focus: shùn shǒu
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
这个工作对他来说很顺手。
Focus: hěn shùn shǒu
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
我顺手把钥匙放在桌上了。
Focus: fàng zài zhuō shàng
Du hast gesagt:
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/ 30 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Use 顺手 to describe doing something easily or as a convenient side action.
- conveniently
- along the way
- take the opportunity
Beispiel
你出门时能顺手把垃圾带下去吗？
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