划线 (huà xiàn) — to draw a line (physically or figuratively); to delineate

Definition

划线 (huà xiàn) is a separable verb: 划 + 线, with an object, measure word 条, or modifier in between (e.g. 划一条线). Used for both drawing a line and figuratively delineating scope or boundaries.

verb
to draw a line (physically or figuratively)to delineate

Examples

  • 划线。
    Qǐng nǐ yòng chǐ zi huà xiàn.
    Please draw a line with a ruler.
  • 。
    Tā zài zhǐ shàng huá le yì tiáo zhí xiàn.
    He drew a straight line on the paper.
  • 划线。
    Gōng sī gěi měi gè bù mén dōu huà xiàn le rèn wu fàn wéi.
    The company delineated the task scope for each department.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

划huàdraw
线xiànline

划 means to draw, and 线 is a line; together they describe making a line.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
刀刀dāo
Sound part声符shēngfú
戈
戈gē划huá
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

划 is made of 刀, a knife, and 戈, a weapon. The 戈 part gives the sound.

Open 划 →

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 線; 线 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
泉
泉quán線xiàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 線 uses 糹 (silk/thread) to show the meaning and 泉 to suggest the sound; the simplified 线 is a later shorthand.

Open 线 →

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