垂钓 (chuí diào) — to fish (with a hook and line); to angle (liter…

Definition

A formal, literary verb for fishing with a hook and line — used in writing or evocative contexts, while everyday 钓鱼 covers casual speech.

verb

to fish (with a hook and line)to angle (literary/formal)

垂钓。
Tā xǐ huan zhōu mò qù hú biān chuí diào.
He likes to go fishing by the lake on weekends.
垂钓。
chuí diào Xū yào nài xīn hé jì qiǎo.
Fishing requires patience and skill.
垂钓。
Tā měi tiān zǎo shàng dōu qù hǎi biān chuí diào.
He goes fishing at the seaside every morning.

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.

垂chuíhang down

垂 gives the idea of hanging down, and 钓 gives the idea of fishing, so the word means to angle.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

垂 combines 𠂹 and 土 to draw flowers hanging down from a plant.

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 釣; 钓 is its simplified writing.

金勺釣

Meaning part形符xíngfú

金金jīnmetal

Sound part声符shēngfú

勺

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

The traditional form 釣 uses 金 for metal and 勺 for its sound; the simplified 钓 is a later shorthand.