占先 (zhàn xiān) — to take the lead, to get ahead (in a competition or comparison)

Definition

A verb meaning to seize the lead or get ahead of a rival, usually in a competition or comparison. The verb is separable: 占先/占了先, with the object (a competitor) typically introduced by 比.

verb
to take the leadto get ahead (in a competition or comparison)

Examples

  • 占先。
    Zhè cì bǐ sài tā zhàn xiān le.
    He took the lead in this competition.
  • ，。
    Zài kē jì chuàng xīn fāng miàn, zhè jiā gōng sī zhàn le xiān.
    In technological innovation, this company has taken the lead.
  • 。
    Tā bǐ duì shǒu zhàn guò yí cì xiān.
    She once got ahead of her opponent.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

占zhànoccupy
先xiānfirst place

占 'occupy' and 先 'first place' together mean getting ahead in a contest.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 佔; 占 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
占
占zhàn佔zhàn
Same sound today

The traditional form 佔 has a person part 亻 and a sound part 占; the simplified 占 is a later abbreviation.

Open 占 →

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

先 combines 止 (foot) and 儿 (person) to show someone moving forward.

Open 先 →

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