国防部 (guó fáng bù) — Ministry of National Defense | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

The government ministry that manages a country's military and national defense. In official translation it is usually rendered 'Ministry of National Defense' (China's usage), even though some countries use 'Ministry of Defense'.

noun

Ministry of National Defense

Measure word · 个

Examples

国防部。
Zhōng guó guó fáng bù jǔ xíng le jì zhě huì.
China's Ministry of National Defense held a press conference.
国防部。
guó fáng bù De zhí zé shì bǎo wèi guó jiā ān quán.
The Ministry of National Defense's duty is to protect national security.
国防部。
Zuó tiān guó fáng bù xuān bù le xīn de zhèng cè.
Yesterday the Ministry of National Defense announced new policies.

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.

国防

国guónation防fángdefense

偏正Modifier + head

部bùdepartment

国防 means national defense and 部 means department, naming the ministry for defense.

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 國; 国 is its simplified writing.

囗或國

Meaning part形符xíngfú

囗囗wéiclosure

Sound part声符shēngfú

或

或huò國guó

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

The traditional form 國 uses 囗 to show closure and 或 to give the sound.

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

阝方防

Meaning part形符xíngfú

阝Written in full as阜fù

Sound part声符shēngfú

方

方fāng防fáng

Same sound today

防 pairs 阝 (written fully as 阜) with 方, which gives the sound.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

咅

咅pǒu部bù

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

部 pairs 咅, which gives the sound, with 邑. It originally named a place in today's Gansu.

Appears in

Government & Politics Military & Defense

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