‘拍手’ literally means ‘to strike the hand’ — combining 拍 (pāi), meaning ‘to pat, tap, or clap’, and 手 (shǒu), meaning ‘hand’. As a verb, it describes the physical action of bringing both hands together with a sharp sound, typically to express approval, encouragement, celebration, or rhythm. It’s a common, everyday gesture used in classrooms, performances, meetings, and informal gatherings.

This word is almost always used in its verbal form and rarely as a noun (though nominal use like ‘a round of applause’ would require context or a modifier, e.g., 一阵拍手). It’s neutral in register — appropriate for children and adults, formal and informal settings alike — and frequently appears in imperative or descriptive sentences. Unlike some compound verbs, 拍手 is inseparable: you cannot insert aspect particles like 了 or 过 between the two characters; they must stay together as a single unit.