加赛 (jiā sài) — tie-breaking match; playoff (to decide a winner after a draw)

Definition

An extra match played to break a tie (e.g., tied score or draw). Used as a count-noun — say 一场加赛 'one tie-breaker' or 安排加赛 'arrange a playoff'.

noun
tie-breaking matchplayoff (to decide a winner after a draw)
Measure word · 场

Examples

  • 加赛。
    Zhè chǎng jiā sài jué dìng le shuí shì guàn jūn.
    This tie-breaking match decided who was the champion.
  • 加赛。
    Liǎng zhī duì wu zài jiā sài zhōng dǎ chéng le píng jú.
    The two teams ended up in a draw during the playoff.
  • ，加赛。
    Yīn wèi bǐ fēn xiāng tóng, suǒ yǐ ān pái le jiā sài.
    Since the scores were tied, a tie-breaking match was arranged.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

加jiāadd
赛sàimatch

加 means add and 赛 means match, so an extra match is added to settle a tie.

Characters in this word

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

加 pairs 力 and 口. In one explanation 力 is strength and 口 is the mouth, meaning exaggeration; in another 力 is plowing effort and 口 is breath or exclamation, meaning extra effort.

Open 加 →

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 賽; 赛 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
貝貝bèishell
Sound part声符shēngfú
塞
塞sāi賽sài
Same sound today

The traditional form 賽 uses 貝 (shell) for meaning and 塞 for sound. The simplified 赛 is a later shorthand.

Open 赛 →

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