排字 (pái zì) — to typeset, to compose (printing); to form characters/figures with colored cards in a large group display

Definition

排字 means 'to typeset' — arranging type or text for printing. It also refers to large group displays where people hold up colored cards to form characters or pictures.

verb
to typesetto compose (printing)to form characters/figures with colored cards in a large group display

Examples

  • 排字。
    Wǒ yǐ qián zài yìn shuā chǎng zuò guò pái zì.
    I used to do typesetting at a printing factory.
  • 排字。
    Zhè cì yùn dòng huì de pái zì biǎo yǎn xū yào wǔ bǎi rén.
    This sports meet's card-display performance needs five hundred people.
  • 。
    Tā huā le sān tiān cái pái hǎo zhè xiē zì.
    It took him three days to finish typesetting these characters.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

排páiarrange
字zìcharacters

排 means arrange and 字 means characters, so the action is arranging characters for printing.

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
非
非fēi排pái
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

排 uses 扌 (hand) to show arranging something with the hand, and 非 for the sound; this gives the sense of placing things in a line.

Open 排 →

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
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
子
子zǐ字zì
Same sound today

字 pairs 宀 (roof) with 子 (child); 子 gives the sound, while 宀 relates to the meaning.

Open 字 →

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