图解 (tú jiě) — to explain or illustrate using diagrams; to analyze in a rigid, oversimplified manner (pejorative)

Definition

A verb meaning 'to illustrate with diagrams' — neutral sense for textbooks or technical explanation. The pejorative sense (rigid, oversimplified analysis) is rarer and carries a negative tone.

verb
to explain or illustrate using diagramsto analyze in a rigidoversimplified manner (pejorative)

Examples

  • 图解。
    Zhè běn jiào cái yòng tú jiě de fāng shì jiè shào le rén tǐ de jié gòu.
    This textbook uses diagrams to introduce the structure of the human body.
  • 图解，。
    Tā zhī huì tú jiě wèn tí, cóng bù shēn rù sī kǎo.
    He only oversimplifies problems with rigid analysis and never thinks deeply.
  • 图解。
    Gōng chéng shī yòng tú jiě lái zhǎn shì xīn shè jì fāng àn.
    The engineer used diagrams to illustrate the new design proposal.

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.

图túdiagram
解jiěexplain

图 means diagram and 解 means explain, so explanation is by diagrams.

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 圖; 图 is its simplified writing.

  • 囗囗wéiwalled city
  • 啚啚bǐ

The traditional form 圖 pairs 囗, a walled city, with 啚, an early form meaning remote areas or territory. The simplified 图 is a later abbreviation.

Open 图 →

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

解 shows 刀 (knife) separating 角 (horn) from 牛 (cow), giving the picture of cutting up an ox.

Open 解 →

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