写信 (xiě xìn) — to write a letter | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

写信 is a verb-object phrase meaning 'to write a letter'. It's more specific than 写 ('write' anything); 信 is the noun 'letter'.

verb

to write a letter

Examples

写信。
Wǒ měi gè yuè dōu gěi fù mǔ xiě xìn.
I write a letter to my parents every month.
。
Qǐng bāng wǒ xiě yì fēng xìn gěi jīng lǐ.
Please help me write a letter to the manager.
。
Tā zuó tiān xiě le sān fēng xìn.
He wrote three letters yesterday.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

写 gives writing, and 信 gives a letter, so it names the act of writing a letter.

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 寫; 写 is its simplified writing.

宀舄寫

Meaning part形符xíngfú

宀宀mián

Sound part声符shēngfú

舄

舄xì寫xiě

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 寫 combines 宀 with 舄 for the sound; this note is about 寫, not the simplified 写.

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

言言yánwords

Sound part声符shēngfú

人

人rén信xìn

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

信 pairs 人 as the sound part with 言 (words) as the meaning part.

Appears in

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