布雷 (bù léi) — to lay mines, to mine (an area)

Definition

A military term meaning 'to lay mines' in an area. Refers specifically to planting explosive devices, not setting traps in general.

verb
to lay minesto mine (an area)

Examples

  • 布雷,。
    Jūn duì zài biān jìng bù léi, fáng zhǐ dí rén rù qīn.
    The army laid mines at the border to prevent enemy invasion.
  • ,。
    Dí rén yǐ jīng bù le hěn duō léi, wǒ men dé xiǎo xīn.
    The enemy has laid many mines; we need to be careful.
  • ,。
    Zhè piàn qū yù bù guò léi, fēi cháng wēi xiǎn.
    This area has been mined; it is very dangerous.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

布bùlay out

布雷 joins 布 (to lay out) and 雷 (mines), meaning to lay out mines.

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
巾巾jīnkerchief
Sound part声符shēngfú
父
父fù布bù
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

布 pairs 巾, a kerchief, with 父 as a sound part.

Open 布 →

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
雨雨yǔrain
Sound part声符shēngfú
畾
畾léi雷léi
Same sound today

The top 雨 (rain) points to the meaning, and the bottom 畾 gives the sound.

Open 雷 →

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