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下令 (xià lìng) — to give an order; to command

Definition

下令 is a formal verb meaning 'to issue an order' (usually from authorities like governments, military, or senior management). More formal than 吩咐, broader in scope than 指令 (which is typically technical/operational).

verb
to give an orderto command

Examples

  • 下令。
    Gōng sī xià lìng kāi shǐ xīn xiàng mù.
    The company gave the order to start a new project.
  • 下令。
    Jiāng jūn xià lìng bù duì qián jìn.
    The general ordered the troops to advance.
  • 下令。
    Zhèng fǔ xià lìng quán guó jìn rù jǐn jí zhuàng tài.
    The government ordered a nationwide state of emergency.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

下xiàissue
令lìngorder

下 (issue) and 令 (order) combine to mean giving an order.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

下 is drawn as a short horizontal line below a long curved line.

Open 下 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 亼亼jí
  • 卩卩jié

In 令, the upper 亼 is an open mouth and the lower 卩 is a kneeling person, together showing someone giving orders.

Open 令 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Management

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