出题 (chū tí) — to set a question (for an exam or test); to assign a topic (for discussion or writing)

Definition

A verb-noun compound meaning 'to set/assign a question or topic' — used for exams (出考题) and for writing or discussion topics.

verb
to set a question (for an exam or test)to assign a topic (for discussion or writing)

Examples

  • 。
    Lǎo shī gěi zhè cì kǎo shì chū le yí dào hěn nán de tí.
    The teacher set a very difficult question for this exam.
  • 出题。
    Zhè cì biàn lùn de zhǔ tí yóu zhǔ bàn fāng chū tí.
    The topic for this debate is set by the organizer.
  • 出题。
    Jiào shòu ràng wǒ men zì jǐ chū tí xiě lùn wén.
    The professor let us choose our own topics to write our theses.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

出chūissue
题tíquestion

Issuing a question or topic (题) for an exam or discussion.

Characters in this word

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

出 combines 止 (foot) and 凵 (cave) to show a foot stepping out of a cave.

Open 出 →

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 題; 题 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
頁頁yèhead
Sound part声符shēngfú
是
是shì題tí
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

For 题, the traditional form 題 uses 是 for sound and 頁 for head, and means 'forehead'.

Open 题 →

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