Usage note
动手表示开始做，也可表示用手去做。
dòng shǒu biǎo shì kāi shǐ zuò， yě kě biǎo shì yòng shǒu qù zuò。
动手 means to start doing something, or to use one's hands.
Context note
动手常用于工作、学习和提醒。
dòng shǒu cháng yòng yú gōng zuò 、 xué xí hé tí xǐng。
It is often used with work, learning, and reminders.
5 examples
我们动手做吧。
wǒ men dòng shǒu zuò ba。
Let's get to work.
请别动手。
qǐng bié dòng shǒu。
Please do not use your hands.
他开始动手整理。
tā kāi shǐ dòng shǒu zhěng lǐ。
He started tidying with his hands.
老师让大家动手写。
lǎo shī ràng dà jiā dòng shǒu xiě。
The teacher asked everyone to start writing.
动手前先想一想。
dòng shǒu qián xiān xiǎng yi xiǎng。
Think before you start.
5 mini stories
孩子们动手做纸船。
hái zi men dòng shǒu zuò zhǐ chuán。
The children got to work making paper boats.
老师说，先动脑，再动手。
lǎo shī shuō， xiān dòng nǎo， zài dòng shǒu。
The teacher said, think first, then do it.
他动手修好了椅子。
tā dòng shǒu xiū hǎo le yǐ zi。
He fixed the chair with his hands.
大家一起动手，房间很快就干净了。
dà jiā yì qǐ dòng shǒu， fáng jiān hěn kuài jiù gān jìng le。
Everyone got to work, and the room became clean quickly.
遇到问题时，不要先动手打人。
yù dào wèn tí shí， bú yào xiān dòng shǒu dǎ rén。
When facing a problem, do not start by hitting people.
Mini dialogue
一起做手工
A
我们动手做一个纸飞机吧。
Wǒmen dòng shǒu zuò yī gè zhǐ fēijī ba.
Let's start making a paper airplane.
B
好主意！我喜欢动手做东西。
Hǎo zhǔyì! Wǒ xǐhuān dòng shǒu zuò dōngxi.
Good idea! I like to start making things.
帮忙做饭
A
妈妈，我可以动手帮忙吗？
Māma, wǒ kěyǐ dòng shǒu bāngmáng ma?
Mom, can I start helping?
B
当然可以，你来动手洗菜吧。
Dāngrán kěyǐ, nǐ lái dòng shǒu xǐ cài ba.
Of course, you can start washing the vegetables.
Related words and contrasts
similar
开始
kāi shǐ
to start
动手 means to start doing something, similar to 开始.
similar
行动
xíng dòng
to take action
动手 implies taking action, like 行动.
opposite
住手
zhù shǒu
to stop (doing something)
住手 means to stop what you are doing, opposite of 动手.