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字句 (zì jù) — words and expressions; phrasing; writing

Definition

Refers to the wording and phrasing in a piece of writing — the specific words and expressions used. Typically used in literary, academic, or editorial contexts (e.g., revising, translating, polishing a text).

noun
words and expressionsphrasingwriting

Examples

  • 字句。
    Zhè piān sǎn wén de zì jù fēi cháng yōu měi.
    The phrasing of this essay is very elegant.
  • 字句，。
    Tā xiū gǎi le jǐ chù zì jù, ràng wén zhāng gèng tōng shùn.
    He revised a few words and expressions to make the article smoother.
  • 字句。
    Fān yì shí yào zhōng shí yú yuán wén de zì jù.
    When translating, one must be faithful to the wording of the original text.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

字zìcharacter
句jùsentence

字 refers to characters or words and 句 to sentences, so together they mean wording or phrasing.

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
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
子
子zǐ字zì
Same sound today

字 pairs 宀 (roof) with 子 (child); 子 gives the sound, while 宀 relates to the meaning.

Open 字 →

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
丩丩jiūto entangle
Sound part声符shēngfú
口
口kǒu句jù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

句 pairs 丩, originally two entangled ropes and giving a sense of entangling, with 口 as the sound part.

Open 句 →
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