‘招手’ literally combines ‘zhāo’ (to invite, beckon) and ‘shǒu’ (hand), forming a verb meaning ‘to wave’—specifically with the hand to greet someone, signal attention, or hail transportation. It describes a deliberate, visible gesture, usually with the arm extended and palm facing outward or inward, depending on regional custom. Unlike casual hand movements, 招手 implies intention: you’re acknowledging, calling, or welcoming another person.

This action is deeply embedded in daily social interaction across Chinese-speaking communities—used when spotting a friend across a street, boarding a taxi, or saying goodbye at a station. While similar to English ‘wave,’ 招手 carries subtle cultural weight: it’s polite but informal, appropriate among peers or strangers, and rarely used in formal or solemn settings. The gesture itself may vary by region (e.g., palm-in vs. palm-out), but the word remains universally understood as intentional, friendly signaling.