伸直 (shēn zhí) — to straighten; to stretch out

Definition

伸直 means to straighten out or fully extend a body part (limbs, back, fingers). Pairs naturally with 把 constructions and often contrasts with 弯曲 (bend).

verb
to straightento stretch out

Examples

  • 伸直。
    Qǐng bǎ tuǐ shēn zhí.
    Please straighten your legs.
  • 伸直。
    Tā shēn zhí le shǒu qù ná shū.
    He stretched out his hand to get the book.
  • ,伸直。
    Zuò wán yùn dòng hòu, yào shēn zhí yāo xiū xi yí xià.
    After exercise, you should straighten your back and rest a bit.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

伸shēnstretch
直zhístraight

伸 means stretch and 直 means straight, so to stretch into a straight state.

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rénman
Sound part声符shēngfú
申
申shēn伸shēn
Same sound today

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

Open 伸 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The earliest form of 直 pairs 目, an eye, with an unclear stroke 丨.

Open 直 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.