展翅 (zhǎn chì) — to spread one's wings; to take flight | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A vivid verb meaning to spread the wings and take flight, often used figuratively for launching into a new chapter (e.g. a career).

verb

to spread one's wingsto take flight

Examples

展翅。
Xiǎo niǎo zhǎn chì fēi xiàng tiān kōng.
The little bird spread its wings and flew toward the sky.
。
Xióng yīng zài tiān kōng zhōng zhǎn le yí cì chì.
The eagle spread its wings once in the sky.
展翅，。
Tā zhōng yú zhǎn chì le, kāi shǐ le xīn de shì yè.
He finally spread his wings and started a new career.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

展 gives spread, and 翅 gives wing.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

𧝑

𧝑𧝑展zhǎn

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

展 is built from 尸 and 𧝑. The 𧝑 part points to fine red silk clothes and also contains the idea of opening or extending.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

支羽翅

Meaning part形符xíngfú

羽羽yǔfeathers

Sound part声符shēngfú

支

支zhī翅chì

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

翅 uses 羽, meaning feathers, for the meaning and 支 for the sound. The 羽 part shows the character is about a wing or fin shape.

Appears in

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