围追 (wéi zhuī) — to surround and chase; to encircle and pursue

Definition

Usually appears in the set phrase 围追堵截, meaning to surround and pursue on all sides — a military or law-enforcement term. Not a common everyday verb on its own.

verb
to surround and chaseto encircle and pursue

Examples

  • 围追。
    Dí rén bèi wǒ men wéi zhuī zhù le.
    The enemy was surrounded and chased by us.
  • 围追。
    Jǐng fāng zhèng zài wéi zhuī táo fàn.
    The police are encircling and pursuing the fugitive.
  • 围追。
    Bù duì cóng liǎng biān wéi zhuī dí rén.
    The troops surrounded and chased the enemy from both sides.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

围wéisurround
追zhuīpursue

'围' (surround) and '追' (pursue) are two actions combined.

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 圍; 围 is its simplified writing.

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.

Open 围 →

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
辶Written in full as辵chuòmovement
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠂤
𠂤𠂤追zhuī
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The 辶 part shows movement, while 𠂤 gives the sound, for the sense of moving after or pursuing.

Open 追 →

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