pistol

Compared meaning: a small gun fired with one hand (noun).

比较义项：手枪（可用单手持握、发射的小型枪支）（名词）。

• pistol 本词

  More common in everyday, military, and narrative speech; often implies a specific type of handgun (typically semi-automatic, as opposed to a revolver), and sounds more vivid or dramatic.

  在日常、军事和叙述性语境中更常用；常暗指某种具体类型的手枪（通常是半自动手枪，区别于左轮手枪），听起来也更生动、更具画面感。

  He drew his pistol the moment he heard footsteps in the hallway.

  他一听到走廊里的脚步声，就立刻拔出了手枪。

• handgun

  More formal and technical, common in legal, news, and statistical contexts; used as a broad category that also includes revolvers, not just semi-automatic types.

  更正式、更技术化，常见于法律、新闻和统计语境；作为一个宽泛的类别使用，也包括左轮手枪，而不仅限于半自动类型。

  State law requires a background check before anyone can purchase a handgun.

  州法律规定，任何人购买手枪前都必须接受背景调查。

Pistol and handgun both mean a small gun used with one hand. Pistol is more common in everyday and military language, and often suggests a semi-automatic gun, not a revolver. Handgun is more formal and technical, common in law, news, and statistics, and includes revolvers.

这两个词在这个意义上很接近，都指可以单手操作的小型枪支，但使用场合和语域略有不同：handgun 更正式、更笼统，常见于法律、新闻和统计语境，涵盖左轮手枪等各种类型；pistol 是日常和军事语境中更常用的说法，口语中也更常见。