xiánzhūshǒu: 咸猪手 - Groping Hand, Sexual Harasser, Groping

• Keywords: xian zhu shou, 咸猪手, groping in Chinese, sexual harassment in Chinese, Chinese slang for pervert, what does xian zhu shou mean, salty pig hand, Chinese #MeToo, unwanted touching in China.
• Summary: “咸猪手” (xián zhū shǒu), literally “salty pig hand,” is a vivid and derogatory Chinese slang term for a hand that gropes or sexually harasses someone, particularly in a public space like a crowded subway. The term can also refer to the act of groping or the person who does it (a “groper”). It is a powerful, informal expression used to condemn and shame this unwanted physical contact, carrying a much more visceral and negative connotation than the clinical English term “sexual harassment.”

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xián zhū shǒu
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: A hand that engages in groping or sexual harassment; by extension, the person who gropes.
• In a Nutshell: Don't be fooled by the literal translation—this has nothing to do with food. “咸猪手” is a powerful slang term for the disgusting act of someone touching you inappropriately without your consent. Imagine the repulsive image of a greasy, dirty “salty pig's trotter” reaching out to touch you; that's the feeling this term is meant to evoke. It's most often used to describe groping that happens in crowded, public places.

• 咸 (xián): Salty. In this context, it derives from Cantonese slang where “咸湿” (xián shī) means lecherous or perverted. So, “salty” here carries the meaning of being inappropriate and lustful.
• 猪 (zhū): Pig. This character associates the action with a dirty, brutish, and unintelligent animal, adding a layer of insult and disgust.
• 手 (shǒu): Hand. This specifies the tool of the harassment—the offending limb itself.

When combined, “咸猪手” (salty pig hand) creates a potent and memorable image of a lecherous, dirty, animalistic hand engaging in unwanted touching. It effectively dehumanizes the perpetrator and validates the victim's feeling of being violated and disgusted.

“咸猪手” is a distinctly modern piece of social slang that has gained prominence with the rise of urban life in China. Its prevalence is closely tied to the daily experience of millions who commute on packed buses and subways, environments where anonymity and close quarters can embolden perpetrators. The term is a cornerstone of public discourse around sexual harassment, particularly in the context of the #MeToo movement in China (known as #米兔).

• Comparison with Western Concepts: While English has terms like “groper,” “getting handsy,” or the legal term “sexual assault,” none capture the specific visual and visceral disgust of “咸猪手.” The English terms are either descriptive (“groper”) or clinical (“unwanted physical contact”). “咸猪手” is fundamentally an insult and a condemnation. It's a weaponized metaphor that serves to shame the behavior publicly, reflecting a societal value of condemning actions that disrupt public harmony and violate personal dignity in a very direct, non-academic way.
• Social Function: The term's widespread use in media and on social platforms like Weibo serves an important social function: it allows victims to name their experience in a way that is immediately understood and validated by the public. Calling someone out as a “咸猪手” is a powerful act of defiance that shifts the shame from the victim to the perpetrator.

“咸猪手” is used almost exclusively in informal and negative contexts. You will hear it in conversations, see it in social media posts, and read it in tabloid-style news headlines about incidents of public harassment.

• As the Offending Hand: It can refer to the literal hand. Ex: “Keep your salty pig hand to yourself!”
• As the Act: It can refer to the act of being groped. Ex: “I was a victim of a 'salty pig hand' on the train today.”
• As the Person: It can be used to label the perpetrator. Ex: “That guy is a total 'salty pig hand'.”

It is highly informal. In a police report or a legal setting, the formal term 性骚扰 (xìngsāorǎo) would be used instead.

• Example 1:
  • 在地铁上，一个女孩大喊：“拿开你的咸猪手！”
  • Pinyin: Zài dìtiě shàng, yí ge nǚhái dà hǎn: “Ná kāi nǐ de xián zhū shǒu!”
  • English: On the subway, a girl yelled: “Get your groping hand off me!”
  • Analysis: This is a classic, direct usage of the term to confront a harasser in the moment. It refers specifically to the offending hand.
• Example 2:
  • 新闻报道了那个在公交车上被抓到的咸猪手。
  • Pinyin: Xīnwén bàodào le nàge zài gōngjiāochē shàng bèi zhuā dào de xián zhū shǒu.
  • English: The news reported on that groper who was caught on the bus.
  • Analysis: Here, “咸猪手” is used to refer to the person—the groper. This is a very common usage in media headlines and discussions.
• Example 3:
  • 夏天穿得少，女孩子要小心咸猪手。
  • Pinyin: Xiàtiān chuān de shǎo, nǚháizi yào xiǎoxīn xián zhū shǒu.
  • English: In the summer when people wear less, girls need to be careful of gropers.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses “咸猪手” as a general warning against the phenomenon or the people who do it.
• Example 4:
  • 她因为在公司遭遇咸猪手而辞职了。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi zài gōngsī zāoyù xián zhū shǒu ér cízhí le.
  • English: She resigned because she experienced groping/sexual harassment at the company.
  • Analysis: In this context, “遭遇咸猪手” (zāoyù xián zhū shǒu) means “to encounter/suffer the act of groping.”
• Example 5:
  • 很多女性都分享过自己被咸猪手的经历。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō nǚxìng dōu fēnxiǎng guò zìjǐ bèi xián zhū shǒu de jīnglì.
  • English: Many women have shared their experiences of being groped.
  • Analysis: The structure “被 (bèi) + 咸猪手” is a passive construction meaning “to be groped.” This is a very common way to phrase it from the victim's perspective.
• Example 6:
  • 那个男人当场被抓住，但他不承认自己是咸猪手。
  • Pinyin: Nàge nánrén dāngchǎng bèi zhuāzhù, dàn tā bù chéngrèn zìjǐ shì xián zhū shǒu.
  • English: That man was caught on the spot, but he wouldn't admit he was a groper.
  • Analysis: This shows the term being used as a label or identity that the perpetrator is denying.
• Example 7:
  • 社交媒体让揭露咸猪手的行为变得更容易了。
  • Pinyin: Shèjiāo méitǐ ràng jiēlù xián zhū shǒu de xíngwéi biàn de gèng róngyì le.
  • English: Social media has made it easier to expose the behavior of gropers.
  • Analysis: This highlights the term's role in modern digital culture and activism against sexual harassment.
• Example 8:
  • 别以为在暗处伸出咸猪手就没人知道。
  • Pinyin: Bié yǐwéi zài àn chù shēn chū xián zhū shǒu jiù méi rén zhīdào.
  • English: Don't think that no one will know if you extend a groping hand in the dark.
  • Analysis: A warning to potential perpetrators, using the term metaphorically for the act itself.
• Example 9:
  • 面对咸猪手，我们不应该沉默。
  • Pinyin: Miànduì xián zhū shǒu, wǒmen bù yīnggāi chénmò.
  • English: In the face of groping/gropers, we should not remain silent.
  • Analysis: This is a call to action, using “咸猪手” to represent the entire issue of public sexual harassment.
• Example 10:
  • 他在办公室里对同事动手动脚，真是个咸猪手。
  • Pinyin: Tā zài bàngōngshì lǐ duì tóngshì dòng shǒu dòng jiǎo, zhēn shì ge xián zhū shǒu.
  • English: He's always getting handsy with colleagues in the office, he's such a groper.
  • Analysis: This example extends the context beyond public transport to the workplace. The phrase “动手动脚” (dòng shǒu dòng jiǎo - to get handsy) is often associated with “咸猪手” behavior.

• It's Not Food: The most common mistake for a beginner is to see “salty pig hand” and think of cuisine. While there are dishes made from pig's trotters, they are called different names like “猪蹄” (zhū蹄) or “咸蹄膀” (xián tí pǎng). “咸猪手” is never used to refer to food.
• Slang vs. Formal: Do not use “咸猪手” in a formal report, a legal document, or a serious academic paper. It is strong, emotional slang. The correct, neutral term for these contexts is 性骚扰 (xìngsāorǎo), which means “sexual harassment.”
• Specificity: “咸猪手” specifically refers to unwanted physical touching, especially groping. It does not typically cover verbal harassment, catcalling, or other forms of non-physical harassment. The focus is squarely on the “手” (hand).

• 性骚扰 (xìngsāorǎo) - The formal, legal term for “sexual harassment.” This is the official equivalent, whereas `咸猪手` is the street-level slang.
• 色狼 (sèláng) - “Color wolf.” A common slang term for a pervert, lecher, or sexual predator. A person who has a `咸猪手` is a type of `色狼`. `色狼` is broader and can include non-physical actions like peeping.
• 流氓 (liúmáng) - Hooligan, rogue, gangster. This is a much broader term for a bad person or troublemaker, which can include sexual misconduct but also covers fighting, scoundrel-like behavior, etc.
• 吃豆腐 (chī dòufu) - “To eat tofu.” A milder slang term for taking advantage of someone (usually a woman), often through playful but unwanted touching or flirtatious verbal teasing. It is generally considered less severe and aggressive than `咸猪手`.
• 非礼 (fēilǐ) - Indecent assault; to take liberties with. This term is more traditional and a bit more formal than `咸猪手` but less clinical than `性骚扰`. It means to act against “礼” (lǐ - rites, etiquette).
• 变态 (biàntài) - Pervert, abnormal. A general term for someone with deviant thoughts or behaviors, not necessarily sexual. A `咸猪手` would be considered a `变态`.
• 咸湿 (xián shī) - (Cantonese origin) Lecherous, perverted, horny. This is an adjective that describes the character of a `色狼` or `咸猪手`. It's the conceptual root of the “咸” (salty) in `咸猪手`.