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侧翼 (cè yì) — (military) flank

Definition

A military term for the 'flank' — the left or right side of a formation, not the front or rear. Distinct from 翼 yì alone, which is broader ('wing; flank'), while 侧翼 specifies the side.

noun
(military) flank

Examples

  • 侧翼。
    Dí rén de cè yì hěn bó ruò.
    The enemy's flank is very weak.
  • 侧翼。
    Tā men cóng cè yì jìn gōng.
    They attacked from the flank.
  • 侧翼。
    Wǒ men yào bǎo hù wǒ men de cè yì.
    We must protect our flank.

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.

侧cèside
翼yìwing

侧 (side) and 翼 (wing) combine to name the side wing or flank.

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 側; 侧 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
則
則zé側cè
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 側 has 亻, a person, and uses 則 to show its sound. The simplified 侧 is a later shorthand.

Open 侧 →

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
羽羽yǔ
Sound part声符shēngfú
異
異yì翼yì
Same sound today

翼 combines 羽 (feathers/wings) with 異, which supplies the sound.

Open 翼 →
Appears in
Military & Defense

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