岗 (gǎng) — (noun) post, sentry, job position

Definition

岗 (gǎng) is almost always a bound morpheme meaning 'post' or 'job position' — it never stands alone. Common set words: 岗位 (position/post), 站岗 (stand guard), 下岗 (be laid off).

noun
postsentryjob position

Examples

  • 。
    Tā měi tiān zài mén kǒu zhàn gǎng.
    He stands guard at the gate every day.
  • 。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī de gǎng wèi jìng zhēng hěn jī liè.
    The competition for positions in this company is fierce.
  • 。
    Hěn duō gōng rén xià gǎng hòu chóng xīn xué xí le xīn jì néng.
    Many workers learned new skills after being laid off.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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 崗; 岗 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
山山shānmountain
Sound part声符shēngfú
岡
岡gāng崗gǎng
Same sound today

The traditional form 崗 uses 山 to show a hill or mountain and 岡 to carry the sound; the simplified 岗 is a later shorthand.

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