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拜见 (bài jiàn) — to pay a formal visit (to a superior or elder)

Definition

拜见 is a highly formal, deferential visit to a superior or elder. Compared with 拜访 it emphasizes the rank gap and one's lower status; with 会见 it stresses the caller's act of going, not a meeting between equals.

verb
to pay a formal visit (to a superior or elder)

Examples

  • 拜见。
    Wǒ míng tiān yào qù bài jiàn yí wèi zhòng yào de kè rén.
    I will go to pay a formal visit to an important guest tomorrow.
  • 拜见。
    Tā zhuān chéng qù bài jiàn nà wèi lǎo jiào shòu.
    He made a special trip to pay respects to that old professor.
  • 拜见。
    Tā men yì qǐ bài jiàn le gōng sī de chuàng shǐ rén.
    They jointly paid a formal visit to the founder of the company.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

拜bàirespectfully
见jiànsee

拜 shows respect, and 见 means to see, describing a formal meeting with a senior or superior.

Characters in this word

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

拜 combines 扌 (hand, written fully as 手) with 𠦪 (herbs), showing a hand holding herbs as a gift.

Open 拜 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 見; 见 is its simplified writing.

  • 目目mùeye
  • 卩卩jiékneeling person

The traditional form 見 pairs 目 (eye) with 卩 (kneeling person), showing a kneeling figure with a large eye for a head. The simplified 见 is a later shorthand.

Open 见 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Greetings & Politeness

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