The Chinese word **一手** (yī shǒu) is a compound formed by combining the numeral **一** (yī, meaning "one") with the noun **手** (shǒu, meaning "hand"). Literally, it means "one hand," but its formation follows a common pattern in Chinese where a concrete literal meaning evolves into various metaphorical and idiomatic uses. Thus, **一手** can abstractly signify something done personally or directly (e.g., "firsthand"), a single skill or trick (e.g., "a skill one has mastered"), or even complete control over a situation (e.g., "in one's sole charge"), with the specific meaning derived from context.