截击 (jié jī) — to intercept

Definition

A specific verb for cutting off and stopping something in motion (missiles, balls, communications). Stronger and more targeted than 拦截, which covers a wider range of blocking actions.

verb
to intercept
Easily confused

Examples

  • 截击。
    Tā men chéng gōng jié jī le dí rén de dǎo dàn.
    They successfully intercepted the enemy's missile.
  • ，截击。
    Zài wǎng qiú bǐ sài zhōng, tā chéng gōng jié jī le duì fāng de qiú.
    In the tennis match, he successfully intercepted the opponent's ball.
  • 截击。
    Qíng bào bù mén jié jī le zhòng yào de xìn xī.
    The intelligence department intercepted important information.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

截jiécut off
击jīstrike

截 and 击 combine the senses of cutting off and striking, giving the meaning of intercepting.

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
戈戈gē
Sound part声符shēngfú
雀
雀què截jié
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

截 combines 戈 and 雀, with 雀 supplying the sound.

Open 截 →

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 擊; 击 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
毄
毄jī擊jī
Same sound today

The traditional form 擊 has 手 (hand) and 毄; 毄 gives the sound and also points to striking, while the simplified 击 is a later shorthand.

Open 击 →

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