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代理 (dài lǐ) — (verb) to act on behalf of someone in a responsible position; to serve as an acting (official); (verb) to act as an agent or proxy (for a business or legal matter); (computing) to proxy (network traffic)

Definition

代理 (dài lǐ) is a verb meaning to act on someone's behalf, usually for a business or legal task (e.g. agency, proxy). 代表 also means 'to represent', but focuses on speaking for a group, not handling tasks for someone.

verb
to act on behalf of someone in a responsible positionto serve as an acting (official)to act as an agent or proxy (for a business or legal matter)(computing) to proxy (network traffic)

Examples

  • ，代理。
    Jīng lǐ bú zài shí, yóu fù jīng lǐ dài lǐ tā de zhí wù.
    When the manager is away, the deputy manager acts on his behalf.
  • 代理。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī zhuān mén dài lǐ guó wài pǐn pái de jìn kǒu yè wù.
    This company specializes in acting as an agent for import businesses of foreign brands.
  • 代理IP。
    Nǐ kě yǐ shè zhì dài lǐ fú wù qì lái yǐn cáng zhēn shí IP dì zhǐ.
    You can set up a proxy server to hide your real IP address.

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 of
理lǐmanage

代 contributes on behalf of and 理 contributes manage, so the whole means to manage on behalf.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
玉玉yùjade
Sound part声符shēngfú
里
里lǐ理lǐ
Same sound today

理 pairs 玉 (jade) with 里, which shows how to say it; the jade part points to the old sense of polishing jade.

Open 理 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Business & Commerce5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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