- 伸手不见五指 shēnshǒubùjiànwǔzhǐ pitch-darkso dark that one cannot see one's own hand; pitch-black
- 伸手不见掌 shēnshǒubùjiànzhǎng pitch-darkcannot see one's own palm when stretching out a hand; so dark that one cannot see anything
- 伸手派 shēnshǒupài freeloadermoocher or sponger; refers to a person or group that does not work hard themselves but instead relies on asking superiors, the collective, or the state for help and benefits
- 伸手牌 shēnshǒupái freeloaderA person who does not work or pay for their own needs but relies on others; a moocher or sponger.
- 棺材里伸手 guāncailǐshēnshǒu greedy even in death(literary) describes a person who is extremely greedy and loves money more than life; the first half of a two-part allegory (xiehouyu) whose answer part is [[死要钱|死要錢|si3 yao4 qian2]]
- 衣来伸手，饭来开口 yīláishēnshǒufànláikāikǒu to lead an idle and pampered lifeto stretch out one's hands when clothes are offered and open one's mouth when food is served; describes being lazy and expecting everything to be done for oneself
