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伙伴 (huǒ bàn) — partner, companion, comrade

Definition

伙伴 is a general everyday word for a companion or partner — someone you work, travel, or do things with. More specific than 伴; less formal than 同志 or 战友.

noun
partnercompanioncomrade
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 伙伴。
    Wǒ men shì zuì qīn mì de huǒ bàn.
    We are the closest companions.
  • 伙伴。
    Tā zài gōng sī lǐ shì yí wèi kě kào de huǒ bàn.
    He is a reliable partner in the company.
  • 伙伴。
    Zhè cì lǚ xíng wǒ yǒu liǎng wèi hǎo huǒ bàn.
    I have two good partners for this trip.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

伙huǒcompanion
伴bàncompanion

“伙” and “伴” both suggest companions, together naming a partner.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 夥; 伙 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 伙 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (大伙儿, 伙) it is 夥; in others (小伙子) it is 伙.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
多多duō
Sound part声符shēngfú
果
果guǒ夥huǒ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 夥 combines 多 (many) with 果 as a sound part. The simplified 伙 is a shorthand, so its parts are not the historical parts.

Open 伙 →

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rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
半
半bàn伴bàn
Same sound today

伴 puts 亻 (person) beside 半. The person part fits the meaning of companion, and 半 gives the sound.

Open 伴 →
Appears in
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