代办 (dài bàn) — to act on behalf of; to do something for someone

Definition

代办 (dài bàn) means 'handle something on someone else's behalf' — a separable verb: insert 的/了/过 before 办 (e.g. 代我办, 帮你代办). Emphasizes doing the errand itself.

verb
to act on behalf ofto do something for someone
Easily confused

Examples

  • 代办。
    Wǒ ràng lǚ xíng shè dài bàn le qiān zhèng shǒu xù.
    I had the travel agency handle the visa procedures.
  • 代办。
    Tā dài biǎo gōng sī dài bàn le zhè cì yè wù tán pàn.
    He represented the company in handling this business negotiation.
  • ，代办。
    Rú guǒ nǐ méi shí jiān, wǒ kě yǐ bāng nǐ dài bàn zhè xiē shì qing.
    If you don't have time, I can handle these things for you.

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.

代dàion behalf
办bànhandle

代 means on behalf, and 办 means handle, so it is handling something for someone.

Characters in this word

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
弋
弋yì代dài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 代, 亻 shows a person, and 弋 gives the sound.

Open 代 →

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 辦; 办 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
辡
辡biàn辦bàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 辦 combines 力 (strength) with 辡, which gives the sound; the simplified 办 is a later shorthand.

Open 办 →

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