èrshǒu: 二手 - Second-hand, Used, Pre-owned [The Contextual Chinese Dictionary]

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====== èrshǒu: 二手 - Second-hand, Used, Pre-owned ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** ershou, 二手, second-hand chinese, used in chinese, buy used china, second-hand goods, pre-owned, hearsay chinese, indirect information, Chinese for used items
  * **Summary:** In Chinese, **二手 (èrshǒu)** is the essential term you need to know for anything "second-hand," "used," or "pre-owned." Literally meaning "second hand," it's used for everything from cars and books to phones and furniture. Beyond physical goods, **二手 (èrshǒu)** can also describe "second-hand information" or hearsay. This page will break down how to use **二手** to navigate China's booming second-hand market and understand its more subtle, metaphorical meanings in conversation.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** èrshǒu
  * **Part of Speech:** Adjective, Noun
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 4
  * **Concise Definition:** Previously owned or used by another; second-hand.
  * **In a Nutshell:** **二手 (èrshǒu)** is the direct and most common equivalent of the English "second-hand." It's a straightforward and highly practical word. If you want to buy something used, you're looking for an **二手** item. If you hear a story from a friend who heard it from someone else, you've received **二手** news. The core concept is that you are not the first person to own or receive it.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **二 (èr):** The character for the number "two," but it can also mean "second."
  * **手 (shǒu):** The character for "hand." It's a pictograph that originally looked like a hand with five fingers.
  
When combined, **二手 (èrshǒu)** literally translates to "second hand." This is a beautifully simple and logical construction, making it very easy for learners to remember. It signifies that the item has passed through one person's hands and is now moving to a second.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
Historically, thrift and pragmatism have been deeply ingrained values in Chinese culture. Buying and using **二手** items was a normal part of life, seen as a smart and resourceful practice.
In the early 2000s, with rapid economic growth, there was a cultural shift towards prizing newness as a status symbol. However, in recent years, the **二手** market has seen a massive resurgence, driven by three key factors:
1.  **Economic Practicality:** Young people and families look to save money by buying quality used goods.
2.  **Environmentalism:** A growing awareness of sustainability has made buying second-hand a more conscious and responsible choice.
3.  **The Digital Revolution:** E-commerce platforms, most notably **闲鱼 (Xiányú)**—Alibaba's second-hand marketplace app—have made buying and selling used goods incredibly convenient and safe.
Compared to Western culture, where terms like "vintage," "pre-loved," or "pre-owned" are often used to make used items sound more appealing, **二手** is a universal, neutral descriptor in Chinese. It's used for a rusty bicycle just as it is for a luxury "pre-owned" watch. It carries little to no stigma and is simply a factual description of an item's history.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**二手** is extremely common in daily life. You will see it online, in shop names, and hear it in conversation.
  * **As an Adjective (Most Common):** It is most often placed before a noun to describe it as second-hand.
    *   `二手车 (èrshǒu chē)` - second-hand car
    *   `二手书 (èrshǒu shū)` - used book
    *   `二手家具 (èrshǒu jiājù)` - second-hand furniture
  * **As a Noun:** It can sometimes refer to a second-hand item itself, especially in a simple conversational context.
    *   `这手机是二手的。(Zhè shǒujī shì èrshǒu de.)` - This phone is a second-hand one.
  * **Metaphorical Usage (Information):** This is a slightly more advanced but crucial usage. It refers to information that is not from the original source.
    *   `二手消息 (èrshǒu xiāoxi)` - second-hand news, hearsay
    *   `二手资料 (èrshǒu zīliào)` - secondary source material (for research)
The connotation is generally neutral. It simply states a fact. Whether that's good or bad depends entirely on the context (e.g., getting a good deal vs. receiving unreliable information).
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:** 
    * 我想买一辆**二手**车，因为新车太贵了。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yí liàng **èrshǒu** chē, yīnwèi xīn chē tài guì le.
    * English: I want to buy a second-hand car because new cars are too expensive.
    * Analysis: A classic and straightforward example of **二手** used as an adjective to describe a noun (车, car).
  * **Example 2:** 
    * 这家书店专门卖**二手**书和旧杂志。
    * Pinyin: Zhè jiā shūdiàn zhuānmén mài **èrshǒu** shū hé jiù zázhì.
    * English: This bookstore specializes in selling used books and old magazines.
    * Analysis: This sentence highlights the common pairing of **二手** with items like books.
  * **Example 3:** 
    * 我在“闲鱼”上买了一个**二手**相机，几乎是全新的。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ zài "Xiányú" shàng mǎi le yí gè **èrshǒu** xiàngjī, jīhū shì quánxīn de.
    * English: I bought a second-hand camera on "Xianyu," and it's almost brand new.
    * Analysis: This shows the practical context of using second-hand e-commerce apps, which is a huge part of modern Chinese life.
  * **Example 4:** 
    * 别信他的话，那都是**二手**消息。
    * Pinyin: Bié xìn tā de huà, nà dōu shì **èrshǒu** xiāoxi.
    * English: Don't believe what he said; it's all second-hand information (hearsay).
    * Analysis: This is a perfect example of the metaphorical use of **二手**, referring to unverified, indirect information.
  * **Example 5:** 
    * 吸**二手**烟对身体危害很大。
    * Pinyin: Xī **èrshǒu** yān duì shēntǐ wēihài hěn dà.
    * English: Breathing second-hand smoke is very harmful to your health.
    * Analysis: A very important fixed phrase. **二手烟 (èrshǒu yān)** is the standard term for "second-hand smoke."
  * **Example 6:** 
    * 你介意用**二手**的手机吗？
    * Pinyin: Nǐ jièyì yòng **èrshǒu** de shǒujī ma?
    * English: Do you mind using a second-hand phone?
    * Analysis: This question uses **二手** in a common social scenario, asking about someone's preference.
  * **Example 7:** 
    * 很多大学生会通过**二手**市场买卖课本。
    * Pinyin: Hěn duō dàxuéshēng huì tōngguò **èrshǒu** shìchǎng mǎimài kèběn.
    * English: Many university students buy and sell textbooks through the second-hand market.
    * Analysis: This sentence introduces the concept of the **二手市场 (èrshǒu shìchǎng)**, or "second-hand market."
  * **Example 8:** 
    * 这件衣服是**二手**的，但牌子很好，所以很值。
    * Pinyin: Zhè jiàn yīfu shì **èrshǒu** de, dàn páizi hěn hǎo, suǒyǐ hěn zhí.
    * English: This piece of clothing is second-hand, but it's a good brand, so it's a great value.
    * Analysis: Demonstrates how **二手** can be associated with value and smart shopping, not just being "cheap."
  * **Example 9:** 
    * 他只是个**二手**老板，真正的老板在幕后。
    * Pinyin: Tā zhǐshì ge **èrshǒu** lǎobǎn, zhēnzhèng de lǎobǎn zài mùhòu.
    * English: He's just a middleman boss; the real boss is behind the scenes.
    * Analysis: A more advanced, figurative use. Here, **二手** implies "intermediary" or "not the original source of power."
  * **Example 10:** 
    * 写论文时，我们应该尽量引用一手资料，而不是**二手**资料。
    * Pinyin: Xiě lùnwén shí, wǒmen yīnggāi jǐnliàng yǐnyòng yīshǒu zīliào, ér búshì **èrshǒu** zīliào.
    * English: When writing a thesis, we should try our best to cite primary sources, not secondary sources.
    * Analysis: This highlights the academic distinction between primary (**一手, yīshǒu**) and secondary (**二手**) sources.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **二手 (èrshǒu) vs. 旧 (jiù):** This is the most common point of confusion for learners.
    *   **旧 (jiù)** means "old" or "worn." It describes the state or age of an item. `我的旧手机 (wǒ de jiù shǒujī)` is "my old phone" (the one I used before my current one).
    *   **二手 (èrshǒu)** means "second-hand." It describes the history of ownership. `一部二手手机 (yí bù èrshǒu shǒujī)` is "a second-hand phone" (one that I bought from a previous owner).
    *   An item can be both, but the focus is different. **二手** emphasizes the transaction, while **旧** emphasizes the condition.
  * **Not Always Negative:** English speakers might associate "used" or "second-hand" with lower quality. In Chinese, **二手** is a neutral descriptor. A "like-new" item sold by its first owner is still **二手**.
  * **Don't Forget the Metaphorical Meaning:** A common mistake is to only learn the literal meaning. Understanding that **二手** can apply to information, news, and even smoke will significantly deepen your comprehension. For example, hearing **二手消息** and thinking it's about "second-hand text messages" would be a misunderstanding. It means hearsay.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * **[[旧]] (jiù)** - Old; worn; used. Describes the condition of an item, whereas **二手** describes its ownership history.
  * **[[一手]] (yīshǒu)** - First-hand. The direct antonym of **二手**, used for both brand new goods (`一手货`) and primary information sources (`一手资料`).
  * **[[闲鱼]] (Xiányú)** - "Idle Fish," the dominant C2C second-hand marketplace app in China, owned by Alibaba. A must-know for anyone living in China.
  * **[[中古]] (zhōnggǔ)** - Literally "middle-ancient." A trendy term borrowed from Japanese, used specifically for high-end vintage or pre-owned luxury items like designer bags, watches, and accessories. It sounds more fashionable than **二手**.
  * **[[回收]] (huíshōu)** - To recycle, reclaim, or retrieve. This is for items being taken back to be broken down or refurbished professionally, like old electronics or bottles, not typically resold as-is.
  * **[[二手货]] (èrshǒu huò)** - Second-hand goods. Adding **货 (huò)**, meaning "goods" or "merchandise," makes it explicitly a noun referring to physical items.
  * **[[二手烟]] (èrshǒu yān)** - Second-hand smoke. A critical public health term.
  * **[[道听途说]] (dàotīngtúshuō)** - A chengyu (idiom) meaning "hearsay" or "rumor." It's a more formal and literary way to express the idea of **二手消息**.