指挥员 (zhǐ huī yuán) — commander

Definition

A noun meaning the person who commands or directs, typically in a military or operational setting (e.g., a battlefield commander). Compare with 司令 (sīlìng), which usually refers to a higher-ranking commanding officer of a larger unit.

noun
commander
Measure word · 名

Examples

  • 指挥员。
    Zhè wèi zhǐ huī yuán hěn yǒu jīng yàn.
    This commander is very experienced.
  • 指挥员。
    zhǐ huī yuán Zài zhàn chǎng shàng zuò chū le zhòng yào jué dìng.
    The commander made an important decision on the battlefield.
  • 指挥员。
    Wǒ men de zhǐ huī yuán fēi cháng yǒng gǎn.
    Our commander is very brave.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

指挥command
指zhǐdirect挥huīwave
联合Side by side
员yuánperson

指挥 means to direct, and 员 means person, so it names someone who commands.

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shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
旨
旨zhǐ指zhǐ
Same sound today

The left part 扌 is the hand form 手. The right part 旨 gives the sound.

Open 指 →

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 揮; 挥 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
軍
軍jūn揮huī
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 揮 pairs 扌 (hand) with 軍 as a sound part; the simplified 挥 is a shorthand, so its right side is not the historical component.

Open 挥 →

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 員; 员 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
鼎鼎dǐngding
Sound part声符shēngfú
〇
〇líng員yuán
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In the traditional form 員, 〇 supplies the sound and 鼎 supplies the meaning; the simplified 员 is a shortened form.

Open 员 →

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