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奉劝 (fèng quàn) — (polite expression) may I offer a piece of advice; I would humbly suggest

Definition

奉劝 (fèngquàn) is a formal verb meaning 'I would humbly advise / may I suggest' — more respectful and literary than the plain 劝, and often used in writing or speeches.

idiom
(polite expression) may I offer a piece of adviceI would humbly suggest

Examples

  • 奉劝，。
    fèng quàn Nǐ yí jù, zuò shì bú yào tài zháo jí.
    If I may, let me offer you a word: don't be too hasty when doing things.
  • 奉劝。
    Wǒ fèng quàn nǐ hái shì zài kǎo lǜ yí xià.
    I would humbly suggest that you think it over once more.
  • 奉劝，，。
    fèng quàn Gè wèi, jī huì nán dé, yí dìng yào zhuā zhù.
    I respectfully urge everyone: this is a rare opportunity, be sure to seize it.

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.

奉fèngrespectfully
劝quànadvise

奉 (respectfully) frames 劝 (advise) as a polite suggestion.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
廾廾gǒngtwo hands
Sound part声符shēngfú
丰
丰fēng奉fèng
Same sound today

奉 pairs 丰 for the pronunciation with 廾, 'two hands', as the meaning part.

Open 奉 →

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 勸; 劝 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
雚
雚guàn勸quàn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 勸 pairs 力 (strength) with 雚 as a sound part; the simplified 劝 is a shorthand and its parts are not the historical parts.

Open 劝 →
Appears in
Communication & Speech

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