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报了名 (bào le míng) — to have registered, to have signed up (perfective of 报名)

Definition

报了名 is the perfective form of 报名: 'have registered / have signed up'. Unlike 报名 on its own (the action), this version marks it as completed — something you have already done.

verb
to have registeredto have signed up (perfective of 报名)

Examples

  • 报了名。
    Wǒ zuó tiān bào le míng cān jiā bǐ sài.
    I registered for the competition yesterday.
  • ？
    Nǐ xiǎng bào míng cān jiā zhè ge kè chéng ma?
    Do you want to sign up for this course?
  • ，。
    Tā bào guò liǎng cì míng, dàn dōu méi qù.
    He registered twice but didn't go either time.

Origin

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 報; 报 is its simplified writing.

  • 㚔㚔㚔handcuffs
  • 𠬝𠬝𠬝to subdue

The traditional form 報 puts 㚔 (handcuffs) beside 𠬝 (to subdue), showing someone restrained and subdued, as in convicting or punishing a guilty person. The simplified 报 is a later shorthand.

Open 报 →

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

了 was once drawn to show a baby with no arms; some old comments say it showed crossed or tangled legs.

Open 了 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

名 puts 夕 (crescent moon) above 口 (mouth), showing a name spoken in the dark.

Open 名 →
Appears in
School & Education

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