中卫 (Zhōng wèi) — center halfback (in soccer)

Definition

中卫 (Zhōng wèi) is the Chinese term for 'center halfback' or 'centre-back' in football — the central defender positioned between the fullbacks.

noun
center halfback (in soccer)
Measure word ·

Examples

  • 中卫
    Tā zài qiú duì lǐ tī Zhōng wèi.
    He plays center halfback on the team.
  • 中卫
    Zhè ge Zhōng wèi de fáng shǒu néng lì hěn qiáng.
    This center halfback's defensive ability is very strong.
  • 中卫
    Jiào liàn xū yào zhǎo yí gè xīn Zhōng wèi.
    The coach needs to find a new center halfback.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

zhōngcenter
wèidefender

“中” (center) and “卫” (defender) give the center halfback.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The original picture showed a flagpole with a drum in the middle, set up in the center of a field.

Open 中 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 衛; 卫 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
Sound part声符shēngfú
wéiwèi
Same sound today

The traditional form 衛 is built from 行 as the sense part and 韋 as the sound part; the simplified 卫 is a shorthand.

Open 卫 →
Appears in

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