Usage note
鼓掌表示拍手表示欢迎或赞同。
gǔ zhǎng biǎo shì pāi shǒu biǎo shì huān yíng huò zàn tóng。
鼓掌 means to clap hands to show welcome or approval.
Context note
鼓掌常用于表演、比赛和活动。
gǔ zhǎng cháng yòng yú biǎo yǎn 、 bǐ sài hé huó dòng。
It is often used with performances, competitions, and events.
5 examples
大家一起鼓掌。
dà jiā yì qǐ gǔ zhǎng。
Everyone clapped together.
请为他鼓掌。
qǐng wèi tā gǔ zhǎng。
Please clap for him.
表演结束后，观众鼓掌。
biǎo yǎn jié shù hòu， guān zhòng gǔ zhǎng。
After the performance, the audience clapped.
他赢了比赛，大家热烈鼓掌。
tā yíng le bǐ sài， dà jiā rè liè gǔ zhǎng。
He won the game, and everyone clapped warmly.
孩子们学会了什么时候鼓掌。
hái zi men xué huì le shén me shí hòu gǔ zhǎng。
The children learned when to clap.
5 mini stories
老师讲完后，学生们鼓掌。
lǎo shī jiǎng wán hòu， xué shēng men gǔ zhǎng。
After the teacher finished speaking, the students clapped.
看到精彩表演，大家都鼓掌。
kàn dào jīng cǎi biǎo yǎn， dà jiā dōu gǔ zhǎng。
Everyone clapped when they saw the wonderful performance.
她上台时，朋友们为她鼓掌。
tā shàng tái shí， péng yǒu men wèi tā gǔ zhǎng。
When she went on stage, her friends clapped for her.
鼓掌是一种礼貌。
gǔ zhǎng shì yì zhǒng lǐ mào。
Clapping is a form of courtesy.
比赛结束后，观众鼓掌很久。
bǐ sài jié shù hòu， guān zhòng gǔ zhǎng hěn jiǔ。
After the game ended, the audience clapped for a long time.
Mini dialogue
表演结束
A
她唱得真好听！
Tā chàng de zhēn hǎotīng!
She sings so beautifully!
B
我们一起为她鼓掌吧。
Wǒmen yīqǐ wèi tā gǔzhǎng ba.
Let's applaud for her together.
比赛赢了
A
我们班赢了比赛！
Wǒmen bān yíng le bǐsài!
Our class won the competition!
B
太好了，大家鼓掌！
Tài hǎo le, dàjiā gǔzhǎng!
Great, everyone applaud!
Related words and contrasts
similar
拍手
pāi shǒu
clap hands
拍手 is a more general term for clapping hands, while 鼓掌 specifically means applauding.
related
欢呼
huānhū
cheer
欢呼 means to cheer loudly, often accompanying applause.
related
喝彩
hècǎi
acclaim
喝彩 is to shout praise or encouragement, similar to cheering.