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安装 (ān zhuāng) — to install, to mount (equipment, software)

Definition

安装 focuses on fitting and setting up equipment or software. 比 设置 more concrete and physical (machinery, systems); as a verb it's more general than 装置, which also names the device itself.

verb
to installto mount (equipment, software)

Examples

  • 安装。
    Wǒ xū yào zài diàn nǎo shàng ān zhuāng yí gè shā dú ruǎn jiàn.
    I need to install antivirus software on my computer.
  • 安装。
    Shī fu zhèng zài ān zhuāng xīn de kōng tiáo xì tǒng.
    The technician is installing a new air conditioning system.
  • 安装。
    Zhè ge yìng yòng hěn róng yì ān zhuāng.
    This app is easy to install.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

安āninstall
装zhuāngassemble

安 and 装 both mean to install or assemble, so together they express putting equipment or software into place.

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mián
Sound part声符shēngfú
女
女nǚ安ān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 安, 宀 sits above a seated 女 on a cushion; 宀 is the meaning part, 女 is the sound part, and the character originally meant sitting at ease.

Open 安 →

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 裝; 装 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
衣衣yīclothes
Sound part声符shēngfú
壯
壯zhuàng裝zhuāng
Same sound today

The traditional form 裝 pairs 衣 (clothes) with 壯 as a sound part; this story is about 裝, not the simplified 装.

Open 装 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 5Technology & Engineering

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