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掌舵 (zhǎng duò) — (verb) to steer a ship; (verb, figurative) to take the helm, to lead; (noun) helmsman, leader

Definition

Literally 'to hold the rudder,' used literally for steering a ship and figuratively for leading an organization or direction. More nautical/dramatic than 领导 ('lead'); pairs with ships and top-level direction rather than everyday management like 掌管.

verb
to steer a ship(verb, figurative) to take the helmto lead
noun
helmsmanleader

Examples

  • 掌舵。
    Chuán zhǎng zhèng zài zhǎng duò.
    The captain is steering the ship.
  • CEO，掌舵。
    Zuò wéi CEO, tā bì xū zhǎng duò qǐ yè de wèi lái.
    As CEO, he must steer the future of the company.
  • ，。
    Tā zhǎng le èr shí nián de duò, jīng yàn fēi cháng fēng fù.
    He has been at the helm for twenty years and is very experienced.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

掌zhǎnghold
舵duòrudder

掌 means hold and 舵 means rudder, so 掌舵 is holding the rudder, i.e. steering.

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
手手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
尚
尚shàng掌zhǎng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

It combines 手, meaning hand, with 尚, which gives it a sound close to shàng.

Open 掌 →

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
舟舟zhōuboat
Sound part声符shēngfú
它
它tā舵duò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

舵 pairs 舟, a boat, with 它, which gives the sound.

Open 舵 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9ManagementBoats & Water Travel

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