Answer to Love a Good Bargain? Buy it Second-Hand “二手(èrshǒu)” in Chinese

Answer: A
Here, the ordinal number “second” is “第二(dì’èr)” in Chinese. While “second-hand” can be both “二手(èrshǒu)” or “第二手(dì’èrshǒu)” in Chinese, “二手(èrshǒu)” is more widely used. For example, “二手市场(èrshǒu shìchǎng) second-hand market,” “二手车(èrshǒuchē) used car,” “二手房(èrshǒufáng) pre-owned house,” etc. Meanwhile, “第二手(dì’èrshǒu),” with less uses, is often found in phrases like “第二手资料(dìèrshǒu zīliào) secondary source” and “第二手史料(dì’èrshǒu shǐliào) secondary historical data.”

Sū Shān xǐhuan guàng èrshǒu shìchǎng.
苏  珊      喜欢    逛       二手     市场。
Susan loves going to the second-hand market.

Tā gāng mǎi le yítào èrshǒufáng.
她   刚    买  了 一套   二手房。
She just bought a pre-owned house.

Tā dédào le dì’èrshǒu zīliào.
他  得到  了 第二手    资料。
He obtained a secondary source.

The second answer choice in the quiz, “两手(liǎngshǒu),” literally means “two hands.” The word is usually used in “两手准备(liǎngshǒu zhǔnbèi) prepare yourself for both outcomes,” “两手空空(liǎngshǒu kōngkōng) empty-handed,” etc.

Wǒmen yào zuòhǎo liǎngshǒu zhǔnbèi.
我们       要    做好     两手         准备。
We need to prepare ourselves for both eventualities.

Tā liǎngshǒu kōngkōng huílái le.
他  两手         空空         回来 了。
He came back empty-handed.

As for option D in the quiz, there is no such a term as “第两手(dìliǎngshǒu)” in Chinese. So the correct answer is A.
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