die Handbewegung
hand movement
A movement performed with one or both hands.
EXAMPLE
Die Handbewegung beim Schlagen des Akkords muss präzise sein.
The hand movement used when striking the chord must be precise.
die Handbewegung
hand movement / gesture
die Handbewegung, die Handbewegungen
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Meanings
die Handbewegung
gesture
A gesture made with the hand that expresses a message, request, or reaction.
EXAMPLE
Mit einer Handbewegung bat sie ihn, näher zu kommen.
With a hand gesture, she asked him to come closer.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Handbewegung, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Handbewegungen |
| genitive | der Handbewegung |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Handbewegung | die Handbewegungen |
| accusative | die Handbewegung | die Handbewegungen |
| dative | der Handbewegung | den Handbewegungen |
| genitive | der Handbewegung | der Handbewegungen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Compound word
„Handbewegung“ (hand movement) is made up of „Hand“ (hand) and „Bewegung“ (movement). The word therefore refers to a movement of the hand or hands; depending on the context, this movement can also convey a message.
EXAMPLE
Die Handbewegung der Tänzerin war langsam und kontrolliert.
The dancer's hand movement was slow and controlled.
Typical collocations
For a performed movement, „Handbewegung“ (hand movement) is often used with verbs such as „machen“ (to make), „ausführen“ (to perform), or „wiederholen“ (to repeat). Adjectives such as „präzise“ (precise), „gezielt“ (deliberate), and „kontrolliert“ (controlled) also often come before it.
EXAMPLE
Für diese Übung musst du die Handbewegung mehrmals wiederholen.
For this exercise, you have to repeat the hand movement several times.
Context clue
The meaning as a gesture is often clear from a communicative context and from verbs such as „auffordern“ (to ask or prompt), „signalisieren“ (to signal), or „bedeuten“ (to mean). The phrase „mit einer Handbewegung“ (with a hand gesture) is especially common when the gesture expresses a reaction or request.
EXAMPLE
Mit einer Handbewegung signalisierte der Polizist, dass wir weiterfahren durften.
With a hand gesture, the police officer signaled that we were allowed to drive on.
In real life
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