TongTong
Sign in

保票 (bǎo piào) — (in 打保票) to guarantee, to vouch for

Definition

保票 almost only appears in the set phrase 打保票 ('to give a guarantee / vouch for'). It is not a standalone noun for a 'certificate of guarantee' — that is a literal back-translation that does not reflect real usage.

noun
(in 打保票) to guaranteeto vouch for

Examples

  • 保票。
    Tā dǎ le bǎo piào shuō yí dìng néng wán chéng.
    He gave a guarantee that he could definitely finish it.
  • 保票。
    Zhè jiàn shì wǒ kě bù gǎn dǎ bǎo piào.
    I wouldn't dare guarantee this matter.
  • 保票，。
    Méi yǒu bǎo piào de shì qing, yào xiǎo xīn.
    There's no guarantee for things like that, so be careful.

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.

保bǎoguarantee
票piàoticket

保 conveys guarantee and 票 a ticket-like certificate, together naming a guarantee slip.

Characters in this word

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

保 originally showed a person 人 carrying a child 子 on their back, which led to the sense of protecting.

Open 保 →

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

  • 火火huǒfire
  • 𢍱𢍱𢍱to rise high

票 combines 火 (fire) and 𢍱 (to rise high), originally representing sparks rising up.

Open 票 →
Appears in
Attitudes & Opinions

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