捆扎 (kǔn zā) — to tie up, to bind up

Definition

捆扎 (kǔn zā) means 'to tie up / bind' packages, goods, or bundles — often used with 把 to bundle things together tightly. Stronger and more deliberate than simply 绑.

verb
to tie upto bind up

Examples

  • 捆扎。
    Tā bǎ zhè xiē shū dōu kǔn zā qǐ lái le.
    He tied up all these books.
  • 捆扎。
    Gōng rén men zhèng zài kǔn zā huò wù.
    The workers are tying up the goods.
  • 捆扎。
    Qǐng bǎ zhè xiē lā jī kǔn zā hǎo.
    Please tie up this trash well.

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.

捆kǔnbind
扎zhātie

捆 and 扎 both mean binding, so 捆扎 describes tying something up.

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
困
困kùn捆kǔn(r)
Same sound today

捆 pairs 扌 (hand) with 困. The 扌 part points to an action done with the hand, while 困 gives the sound.

Open 捆 →

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
手手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
乙
乙yǐ扎zhā
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

扎 is built from 手 (hand) and 乙, which gives the sound.

Open 扎 →

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