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写道 (xiě dào) — to write (introducing a quotation); writes (that)

Definition

A reporting verb used to introduce a quotation, meaning 'writes (that)' or 'says (in writing)'. Common in news, letters, and literary references; pairs with 报道 and 文中.

verb
to write (introducing a quotation)writes (that)

Examples

  • 写道：“。”
    Tā zài xìn zhōng xiě dào: "wǒ hěn xiǎng niàn dà jiā."
    He wrote in his letter: 'I miss everyone very much.'
  • 写道，。
    Bào dào zhōng xiě dào, shì gù yuán yīn zhèng zài diào chá zhōng.
    The report says that the cause of the accident is under investigation.
  • 写道：“，，。”
    Lǔ xùn céng xiě dào: "shì shàng běn méi yǒu lù, zǒu de rén duō le, yě biàn chéng le lù."
    Lu Xun once wrote: 'There was no road in the world originally, but when many people walk on it, a road appears.'

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

写xiěwrite
道dàosay

写 and 道 combine in meaning: the act of writing presents what is said.

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.

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.

Open 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
行行xíngstreet
止止zhǐfoot
Sound part声符shēngfú
𩠐
首shǒu道dào
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

Early 道 showed a street 行, a foot 止, and a part written 首 or 𩠐; the right part of 行 later disappeared.

Open 道 →
Appears in
Reading & Writing

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