删节 (shān jié) — to abridge, to edit and shorten (a text)

Definition

A formal, written verb meaning 'to abridge / edit and shorten' a text, especially a published work. Implies deliberate editorial cutting, stronger than a casual shorten — closer to 节略 in feel.

verb
to abridgeto edit and shorten (a text)

Examples

  • 删节著。
    Chū bǎn shè jué dìng shān jié yuán zhù zhōng de jǐ zhāng nèi róng.
    The publisher decided to abridge several chapters of the original work.
  • 删节。
    Zhè piān wén zhāng jīng guò shān jié hòu gèng shì hé pǔ tōng dú zhě.
    After being abridged, this article is better suited for general readers.
  • 删节。
    Fān yì shí tā bù dé bù shān jié yì xiē chóng fù de duàn luò.
    When translating, he had to cut and shorten some repetitive paragraphs.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

删shāndelete
节jiéabridge

删 removes parts and 节 makes the text more concise.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 刪; 删 is its simplified writing.

  • 冊冊cèbamboo slips strung together
  • 刀刀dāoknife

The traditional form 刪 pairs 冊, bamboo slips strung together, with 刀, a knife; the simplified 删 is a later shorthand.

Open 删 →

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 節; 节 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺮Written in full as竹zhúbamboo
Sound part声符shēngfú
即
即jí節jié
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 節 pairs ⺮ (bamboo) with 即, which gives the sound; the bamboo part points to a node of bamboo. The simplified 节 is a later abbreviation.

Open 节 →

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