披挂 (pī guà) — to put on armor (literary); armor, suit of armor (literary)

Definition

Literary verb meaning 'to put on armor' or, as a noun, 'a suit of armor' — used in historical or military writing, not daily speech.

verb
to put on armor (literary)armorsuit of armor (literary)

Examples

  • 披挂，。
    Jiāng jūn pī guà shàng mǎ, zhǔn bèi chū zhēng.
    The general put on his armor, mounted his horse, and prepared to go on campaign.
  • 披挂，凛凛。
    Tā yì shēn pī guà, wēi fēng lǐn lǐn.
    He was clad head to toe in armor, imposing and awe-inspiring.
  • 披挂，。
    Zhàn shì men pī guà zhěng qí, liè duì dài mìng.
    The soldiers were fully armored and stood in formation awaiting orders.

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.

披pīput on
挂guàhang

The characters 披 and 挂 describe putting on and hanging, together meaning to dress in armor.

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
皮
皮pí披pī
Same sound today

披 pairs 扌 (hand) with 皮, which gives the sound.

Open 披 →

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 掛; 挂 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺘Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
卦
卦guà掛guà
Same sound today

In the traditional form 掛, the hand part ⺘ and the sound part 卦 show hooking or hanging something with the hand; this form was originally a popular form of 挂.

Open 挂 →

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