打中 (dǎ zhòng) — to hit (the target)

Definition

Verb–object phrase meaning 'to hit (the target)' — emphasizes successfully landing a hit, including figurative uses like 'hitting the crux' of an issue. More result-focused than 打 (which can mean hit/strike/beat).

verb
to hit (the target)

Examples

  • 打中。
    Tā yì qiāng jiù dǎ zhòng le bǎ xīn.
    He hit the bullseye with one shot.
  • 打中。
    Wǒ rēng le sān cì dōu méi dǎ zhòng.
    I threw three times and didn't hit any of them.
  • 打中。
    Tā de pī píng dǎ zhòng le wèn tí de yào hài.
    His criticism hit the crux of the problem.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

打dǎstrike
中zhōnghit

打 gives the striking action and 中 adds the result of landing on the target.

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
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng打dǎ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

打 uses 扌, a hand, to show an action done with the hand, and 丁 to give the sound.

Open 打 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The original picture showed a flagpole with a drum in the middle, set up in the center of a field.

Open 中 →

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