Learn a Chinese Character - 挥 (Huī - Wave; brandish; swing; wield; disperse; to direct with a wave of the hand; to spread out or scatter; to spend freely or extravagantly; to remove or get rid of something)

1. Character Basics

Radical: 扌 (shǒu) - Hand radical

Stroke Count: 9 strokes

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: Huī (First tone)

3. Meaning

Basic Meaning

Wave; brandish; swing; wield; disperse

Extended Meanings

To direct with a wave of the hand
To spread out or scatter
To spend freely or extravagantly
To remove or get rid of something

Additional Notes

Often used to describe actions involving hand movements, especially those that are forceful or expressive.

4. Common Words

挥手 (huīshǒu) - Wave one's hand

Example: 他挥手告别。 (He waved goodbye.)
指挥 (zhǐhuī) - Command; direct; conduct

Example: 他是一位优秀的乐队指挥。 (He is an excellent orchestra conductor.)
挥发 (huīfā) - Volatilize

Example: 酒精容易挥发。 (Alcohol evaporates easily.)
挥霍 (huīhuò) - Squander; spend extravagantly

Example: 不要挥霍你的钱财。 (Don't squander your money.)
挥舞 (huīwǔ) - Wave; brandish

Example: 人群挥舞着旗帜。 (The crowd waved flags.)

5. Grammar & Usage

Part of Speech

Mainly used as a verb

Common Usage

Often combined with body parts: 挥手 (wave hand), 挥臂 (wave arm)
Used in expressions related to direction or control: 指挥 (command, direct)
Used in expressions about scattering or dispersing: 挥发 (volatilize)

Common Structures

挥 + 名词: 挥手 (wave hand), 挥剑 (wield sword)
挥 + 手/臂: 挥手告别 (wave goodbye), 挥臂示意 (wave arm to signal)
被 + 挥 + 名词: 被挥手拒绝 (be waved away), 被挥之门外 (be turned away)

Usage Notes

When used in the sense of "spend extravagantly" (挥霍), it usually has a negative connotation.

6. Cultural Background

Gestures and Communication

In Chinese culture, gestures involving the verb "挥" (wave) are important forms of non-verbal communication. Waving hands can express greetings, farewells, or signals to attract attention.

Artistic Expression

The action of "挥" is often depicted in traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy. The brush movements in calligraphy are sometimes described as "挥毫" (huīháo), which means to wield a writing brush.

Martial Arts Influence

In Chinese martial arts, the concept of "挥" is reflected in various techniques involving swinging or wielding weapons with precision and power.

7. Example Sentence

Example 1:

他向我们挥手告别。

(He waved goodbye to us.)

Example 2:

乐队指挥正在指挥演奏。

(The conductor is conducting the performance.)

Example 3:

她挥霍无度，很快花光了所有积蓄。

(She spent extravagantly and quickly used up all her savings.)

8. Memory Tips

Component Analysis:
挥 is composed of 扌 (shǒu, hand radical) and 军 (jūn, army). Imagine a general waving his hand to command the army.
Sound Association:
The pronunciation "huī" is similar to "灰" (huī, ash). Imagine挥手 (waving hand) to disperse ash.
Image Association:
Picture a conductor waving a baton to direct an orchestra, which represents the meaning of "指挥" (direct, conduct).
Word Association:
Connect "挥" with related words: 挥手 (wave hand), 指挥 (direct), 挥舞 (wave), 挥发 (volatilize), 挥霍 (squander).
Sentence Mnemonic:
Remember the simple sentence: "他挥手告别" (He waved goodbye). This will help you associate the character with its common usage.