修筑 (xiū zhù) — to build, to construct (large structures such as roads, bridges, dams, city walls)

Definition

A formal verb meaning 'to build / construct' large infrastructure like roads, bridges, and dams. More literary than 建筑 or 建造, and emphasizes large-scale engineering works.

verb
to buildto construct (large structures such as roads, bridges, dams, city walls)

Examples

  • 修筑。
    Gōng rén men zhèng zài xiū zhù yì tiáo gāo sù gōng lù.
    The workers are building a highway.
  • 修筑。
    Zhè zuò qiáo shì yóu gǔ dài gōng jiàng xiū zhù de.
    This bridge was built by ancient craftsmen.
  • 修筑。
    Tā men huā le yì nián shí jiān xiū zhù zhè zuò dà bà.
    They spent a year constructing this dam.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

修xiūrepair
筑zhùbuild

'修' and '筑' both describe making or mending structures, so together they mean to build.

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
彡彡shān
Sound part声符shēngfú
攸
攸yōu修xiū
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

修 is built from 攸, which gives the sound, and 彡, a set of three strokes that shows the meaning.

Open 修 →

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 築; 筑 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mùwood
Sound part声符shēngfú
筑
筑zhù築zhù
Same sound today

The traditional form 築 pairs 木 (wood) with 筑, which gives the sound; the simplified 筑 is a later shorthand.

Open 筑 →

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