奸细 (jiān xì) — spy, enemy agent | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

spyenemy agent

Measure word · 个

奸细，。
Jūn duì lǐ kě néng yǒu jiān xì, dà jiā yào xiǎo xīn.
There might be spies in the army, everyone must be careful.
奸细。
Nà ge shāng rén qí shí shì dí fāng pài lái de jiān xì.
That businessman is actually an enemy agent sent by the opposing side.
，奸细。
Qíng bào xiè lòu le, kěn dìng yǒu jiān xì zài àn zhōng huó dòng.
The intelligence was leaked; there must be spies operating in the shadows.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

奸jiāntreacherous

奸 and 细 describe the person as treacherous and subtle.

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.

女干奸

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

干

干gān奸jiān

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

奸 is written with 女 (woman) on the left and 干 on the right; the evidence says 干 gives the sound and 女 marks the meaning.

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 細; 细 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糸糸mì

Sound part声符shēngfú

囟

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

The traditional form 細 pairs 糸, silk or thread, with 囟 for the sound. The simplified 细 is a later shorthand, and the old right part changed shape.

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