伸展 (shēn zhǎn) — to spread; to extend; to stretch

Definition

verb
to spreadto extendto stretch

Examples

  • 伸展
    Tā měi tiān zǎo shàng dōu huì shēn zhǎn shēn tǐ, bǎo chí jiàn kāng.
    He stretches his body every morning to stay healthy.
  • 伸展
    Zhè tiáo lù yán zhe hǎi àn xiàn shēn zhǎn chū qù, fēng jǐng hěn měi.
    This road stretches out along the coastline; the scenery is beautiful.
  • 伸展
    Zhèng fǔ jì huà shēn zhǎn jīng jì yuán zhù de fàn wéi.
    The government plans to extend the scope of economic aid.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

shēnstretch
zhǎnspread

伸 (stretch) and 展 (spread) combine to mean spread or extend.

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
Written in full asrénman
Sound part声符shēngfú
shēnshēn
Same sound today

伸 puts 亻, the side form of 人 (person), next to 申, which gives the sound.

Open 伸 →

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
Sound part声符shēngfú
𧝑
𧝑𧝑zhǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

展 is built from 尸 and 𧝑. The 𧝑 part points to fine red silk clothes and also contains the idea of opening or extending.

Open 展 →

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