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拥挤 (yōng jǐ) — (verb) to crowd, to throng; (adjective) crowded

Definition

拥挤 describes places or streets as 'crowded, packed' and can also be used as a verb meaning people thronging in. Pairs with 挤 (jǐ), which focuses on the action of squeezing or pushing in.

verb
to crowdto throng
adjective
crowded

Examples

  • 拥挤。
    Zhōu mò de shāng chǎng fēi cháng yōng jǐ.
    The mall is very crowded on weekends.
  • 拥挤。
    Qǐng dà jiā bú yào yōng jǐ zài diàn tī mén kǒu.
    Please don't crowd around the elevator door.
  • 拥挤，。
    Zhè tiáo jiē dào tài yōng jǐ le, wǒ men huàn tiáo lù zǒu ba.
    This street is too crowded; let's take another road.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

拥yōngcrowd
挤jǐsqueeze

拥 suggests crowding together, and 挤 suggests squeezing; together they picture people packed tightly.

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
用
用yòng拥yōng
Same sound today

拥 pairs 扌 (hand) with 用, which gives the sound.

Open 拥 →

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 擠; 挤 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
齊
齊qí擠jǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 擠 pairs 扌 (hand) with 齊, a sound part; the simplified 挤 is a later shorthand.

Open 挤 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 5City & Urban

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