割让 (gē ràng) — to cede (territory, land)

Definition

A formal verb meaning to cede territory — used in history, diplomacy, and treaties, not for everyday 'giving' (which is 给). Collocates with 领土/土地/主权.

verb
to cede (territory, land)

Examples

  • 割让。
    Zhè ge tiáo yuē guī dìng zhàn bài guó bì xū gē ràng yí bù fen lǐng tǔ.
    This treaty stipulates that the defeated country must cede part of its territory.
  • 割让。
    Lì shǐ shàng hěn duō guó jiā tōng guò zhàn zhēng gē ràng le tǔ dì.
    In history, many countries ceded land through war.
  • 割让。
    Tā men jù jué gē ràng rèn hé zhǔ quán lǐng tǔ.
    They refused to cede any sovereign territory.

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.

割gēcut
让ràngyield

割 (cut) and 让 (yield) combine to mean cede territory.

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
刂Written in full as刀dāo
Sound part声符shēngfú
害
害hài割gē
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

割 combines 害, which provides the sound, with 刂, the knife form of 刀, to show cutting.

Open 割 →

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 讓; 让 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
襄
襄xiāng讓ràng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 讓 combines 言, showing speech, with 襄, giving the sound; the evidence links it to criticizing or reproaching. The simplified 让 is a later shorthand.

Open 让 →

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