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打气 (dǎ qì) — (literal) to pump up, inflate (a tire, balloon, etc.); (figurative) to encourage, boost morale, cheer on

Definition

Literally 'pump air into' (a tire, ball, etc.). Figuratively, it means to cheer someone on or boost their confidence — like giving them 'air' to keep going.

verb
(literal) to pump upinflate (a tire, balloon, etc.)(figurative) to encourageboost moralecheer on

Examples

  • 打气。
    Zhè ge dǎ qì tǒng kě yǐ yòng lái gěi lán qiú dǎ qì.
    This pump can be used to inflate basketballs.
  • ，，打气。
    Kǎo shì qián, lǎo shī zǒng shì gǔ lì wǒ men, gěi wǒ men dǎ qì.
    Before exams, the teacher always encourages us and boosts our morale.
  • ，。
    Tā gěi chē tāi dǎ zú le qì, rán hòu chū fā le.
    He pumped up the tires fully and then set off.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

打dǎpump
气qìair

打 means strike or pump and 气 means air, so pump air into something.

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 →

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 氣; 气 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
气
气qì氣qì
Same sound today

The traditional form 氣 pairs 米 (rice) with 气, which supplies the sound; the simplified 气 is a later abbreviation.

Open 气 →
Appears in
Emotions & Feelings

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