卷起 (juǎn qǐ) — to roll up (sleeves, paper, mat, etc.); to cause, to stir up (an accident, a disturbance, etc.)

Definition

A separable verb with two distinct senses: physically rolling something up (sleeves, paper), or figuratively stirring up trouble. Note the split: 卷起 → 卷…起来 (rolled the map up, 把这张地图卷起来了).

verb
to roll up (sleeves, paper, mat, etc.)to causeto stir up (an accident, a disturbance, etc.)

Examples

  • 卷起。
    Tā juǎn qǐ xiù zi kāi shǐ gàn huó.
    He rolled up his sleeves and started working.
  • 卷起。
    Qǐng bǎ zhè zhāng dì tú juǎn qǐ lái.
    Please roll up this map.
  • 卷起。
    Nà chǎng chē huò juǎn qǐ le bù xiǎo de fēng bō.
    That car accident stirred up quite a controversy.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

卷juànroll
起qǐup

卷 roll plus 起 up gives the action of rolling something up.

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
卩卩jiékneeling person
Sound part声符shēngfú
𢍏
𢍏𢍏卷juàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 卷, 卩 shows a kneeling person, while 𢍏 gives the sound and may also suggest bending or rolling, as in a reel of books.

Open 卷 →

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
走走zǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
巳
巳sì起qǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

起 is made from 走 and 巳: 走 is the part connected with walking or running, and 巳 gives the sound.

Open 起 →

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