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初选 (chū xuǎn) — primary election

Definition

初选 (chū xuǎn) is the first round of a multi-stage election, used to narrow candidates before the final vote. Distinct from 选举 (xuǎnjǔ), which is the general act of voting.

noun
primary election

Examples

  • 初选。
    Jīn nián de chū xuǎn jiāng zài wǔ yuè jǔ xíng.
    This year's primary election will be held in May.
  • 初选。
    Liǎng wèi hòu xuǎn rén zhèng zài wèi chū xuǎn zuò zhǔn bèi.
    The two candidates are preparing for the primary election.
  • 初选。
    chū xuǎn De jié guǒ jiāng yǐng xiǎng zuì zhōng xuǎn jǔ.
    The result of the primary election will affect the final election.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

初chūfirst
选xuǎnelection

初 ('first') and 选 ('election') combine to mean an initial election.

Characters in this word

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

初 combines 衤 (clothes) and 刀 (knife), showing the start of making clothes by cutting cloth.

Open 初 →

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 選; 选 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
止止zhǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
巽
巽xùn選xuǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 選 combines 止 with 巽, which gives the sound xùn; its sense of choosing is explained as rejecting or sending someone back. Simplified 选 is a shorthand.

Open 选 →
Appears in
Government & Politics

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