包围圈 (bāo wéi juān) — ring of encirclement, siege ring | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

ring of encirclementsiege ring

Measure word · 个

Examples

包围圈。
Dí jūn yǐ jīng xíng chéng le yán mì de bāo wéi juān.
The enemy has formed a tight ring of encirclement.
包围圈。
Wǒ men bì xū zài bāo wéi juān hé lǒng zhī qián tū wéi.
We must break out before the encirclement ring closes.
，包围圈。
Tán pàn zhōng, duì fāng shì tú yòng bāo wéi juān cè lüè bī pò wǒ men ràng bù.
During the negotiations, the other side tried to use an encirclement strategy to force us to concede.

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.

包围surround

包bāowrap围wéisurround

联合Coordinate

包围 describes surrounding, and 圈 gives the ring shape.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 包 pictures a fetus in a womb, or a baby wrapped in cloth.

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 圍; 围 is its simplified writing.

囗韋圍

Meaning part形符xíngfú

囗囗wéienclosure

Sound part声符shēngfú

韋

韋wéi圍wéi

Same sound today

The traditional form 圍 pairs 囗 (enclosure) with 韋, which gives the sound; 围 is the simplified form of 圍.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

囗卷圈

Meaning part形符xíngfú

囗囗wéi

Sound part声符shēngfú

卷

卷juàn圈quān

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

圈 is made of the outer 囗, an enclosure shape, and the inner 卷, which gives the sound.

Appears in

Military & Defense

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