打结 (dǎ jié) — to tie a knot; (figurative) to become tangled, to knot up

Definition

A separable verb meaning 'to tie a knot' (literal, e.g. rope) or 'to become tangled/knotted up' (figurative, e.g. thread or hair). Split it as 打了一个结 when inserting 了 or a measure word.

verb
to tie a knot(figurative) to become tangledto knot up
Easily confused

Examples

  • 。
    Tā yòng shéng zi dǎ le yí gè jié.
    She tied a knot with the rope.
  • 打结，。
    Zhè gēn xiàn dǎ jié le, jiě bù kāi le.
    This thread has gotten tangled and can't be untied.
  • 打结。
    Xiān bǎ shéng zi dǎ jié zài xì dào shù shàng.
    First tie a knot in the rope, then fasten it to the tree.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

打dǎtie
结jiéknot

打, meaning tie, combines with 结, meaning knot, to describe making a knot.

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 結; 结 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
吉
吉jí結jié
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 結 pairs 糸 with 吉; 吉 gives the sound, and 糸 relates to the meaning. The simplified 结 is a later shorthand.

Open 结 →

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