èrshǒu: 二手 - Second-hand, Used, Pre-owned

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

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.

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 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.

• 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.

• 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.