translation of "arm"

[Andy-Ru]

I am writing a speach about knife attacks and in my research for it I read about a boy who had, amongst other injuries, arm wounds. I looked up the translation for "arm", but it has come up with two words "手臂" and "上肢".

Firstly, which is the correct one to use?

Secondly, if there is a difference in meaning, what do the two words mean?

Thanks!

[skylee]

"手臂" is arm(s).

"上肢" is upper limb(s).

They mean the same. I guess in your speech you might prefer using "arm(s)" to "upper limb(s)".

[Andy-Ru]

greath, thankyou

[coarsec]

手臂 means arm, which is commonly used in both written and spoken Chinese. In most circumstances, 手臂 is not including hand. And you could say 一只手臂 or 两只手臂

上肢 is a medical term combining arms and hands as a whole, we seldom use it as 一只上肢 or 两只上肢

[gougou]

So what about 胳膊? That was the first word I learnt for arm; is it used less often?

[skylee]

We hardly use 胳膊 in HK. Not sure if it is even understood. 手臂 is the most common term for "arm".

[Lu]

I learnt 胳膊 too, I think it's northern Chinese then.

[Ari 桑]

I've never heard somone say 手臂 in beijing. Actually, when I just tried to type it, the ms system didn't even have the word. Always been 胳膊 for me, but always good to learn something new.

[muddy]

胳膊 and 手臂 have the same meaning.They both means arm and be used in daily life.

However,in different regions,people have differnt language customs.Some places use 胳膊 frequently,some places like use 手臂 more.

In NanJing,we like to say 膀(bǎng)子 instead of 胳膊 or 手臂.hehe.

[skylee]

In most circumstances, 手臂 is not including hand.

I have never thought about this. Yeah I guess an arm does not include the hand attached to it. But if some gangsters try to cut off my arm, I guess I can hardly keep the hand.

[coarsec]

But if some gangsters try to cut off my arm, I guess I can hardly keep the hand.

Wow, that's really painful! I don't want to get my arm cut, nor do my hand...