先遣 (xiān qiǎn) — (verb) to send in advance; (attributive) advance, vanguard

Definition

Almost always appears as a set modifier meaning 'advance, vanguard' — as in 先遣部队 ('advance troops') or 先遣人员 ('advance personnel'). It is itself a verb-noun compound, not used as a standalone verb in modern usage.

verb
to send in advance(attributive) advancevanguard

Examples

  • 先遣。
    Zhǐ huī bù xiān qiǎn le yì zhī xiǎo fēn duì qù zhēn chá.
    The command sent a small advance team to scout.
  • 先遣。
    xiān qiǎn Bù duì yǐ jīng chū fā le.
    The advance troops have already set out.
  • 先遣。
    Dēng shān duì pài chū le xiān qiǎn rén yuán xún zhǎo zuì jiā lù xiàn.
    The mountaineering team sent advance personnel to find the best route.

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.

先xiānin advance
遣qiǎnsend

先 (in advance) with 遣 (send) gives the sense of sending ahead.

Characters in this word

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

先 combines 止 (foot) and 儿 (person) to show someone moving forward.

Open 先 →

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

The old form showed two hands directing an army, meaning to send or dispatch; the modern 遣 adds a walking part.

Open 遣 →

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