TongTong
Sign in

击鼓 (jī gǔ) — to beat a drum, to drum

Definition

Literary/performative verb meaning 'to beat a drum,' typically as a stage or ceremonial act (e.g., in a performance or as a signal).

verb
to beat a drumto drum

Examples

  • 击鼓。
    Tā zài wǔ tái shàng jī gǔ.
    He is beating a drum on stage.
  • 。
    Tā jī le sān xià gǔ.
    He beat the drum three times.
  • 。
    Tā jī le yì xiǎo shí de gǔ.
    He beat the drum for an hour.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

击jībeat
鼓gǔdrum

击 is to beat and 鼓 is a drum, so it means beating a drum.

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 擊; 击 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
毄
毄jī擊jī
Same sound today

The traditional form 擊 has 手 (hand) and 毄; 毄 gives the sound and also points to striking, while the simplified 击 is a later shorthand.

Open 击 →

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

  • 壴壴zhùdrum
  • 支支zhīhand holding drumstick

鼓 combines 壴, a drum, with 支, a hand holding a drumstick, so the character pictures a drum being struck.

Open 鼓 →
Appears in
Music

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