参照 (cān zhào) — to refer to (a document, standard, etc.); to consult as a reference

Definition

参照 is a formal, written verb meaning to use something as a reference or model (a regulation, prior work, an existing product). More concrete than 参考 ('to consult for ideas') and more active than 参见 ('see also').

verb
to refer to (a document, standard, etc.)to consult as a reference

Examples

  • 参照。
    Qǐng nín cān zhào gōng sī guī dìng bàn lǐ shǒu xù.
    Please handle the procedures according to the company regulations.
  • 参照。
    Zhè fèn bào gào cān zhào le hěn duō zhuān jiā de yán jiū chéng guǒ.
    This report refers to the research results of many experts.
  • ,参照。
    Shè jì xīn chǎn pǐn shí, wǒ men cān zhào le shì chǎng shàng yǐ yǒu de lèi sì chǎn pǐn.
    When designing the new product, we referred to similar products already on the market.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

参cānconsult
照zhàoaccording to

参 means consult and 照 means according to, together describing reference to a document.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 參; 参 is its simplified writing.

For simplified 参, the story belongs to traditional 參, which combines 晶 (stars), 光 (light), and 彡 (rays) to show the Three Stars; one reading takes 光 as a kneeling person looking up.

Open 参 →

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
灬Written in full as火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
昭
昭zhāo照zhào
Same sound today

照 uses 灬, a bottom form of 火 (fire), plus 昭 for the sound.

Open 照 →

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