援引 (yuán yǐn) — to cite, to quote (an example, a law, a document, etc.)

Definition

Formal written verb meaning 'to cite, to quote' a law, precedent, or source as evidence — stronger and more literary than 引用, which covers quoting in general.

verb
to citeto quote (an example, a law, a document, etc.)

Examples

  • 援引。
    Tā zài yǎn jiǎng zhōng yuán yǐn le xiàn fǎ tiáo wén.
    He cited constitutional provisions in his speech.
  • 援引。
    Zhè piān lùn wén yuán yǐn le dà liàng lì shǐ zī liào.
    This paper cites a large amount of historical material.
  • 援引。
    Fǎ guān yuán yǐn le zhī qián de pàn lì lái zhī chí pàn jué.
    The judge cited previous precedents to support the ruling.

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.

援yuánbring forward
引yǐnquote

援 and 引 both contribute bringing forward a text or example, so the word means to cite.

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
爰
爰yuán援yuán
Same sound today

In 援, the left 扌 (written fully as 手) is a hand, and the right 爰 tells you how it sounds.

Open 援 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 弓弓gōngbow
  • 丿丿piěindicatory stroke

引 is made from 弓, a bow, and 丿, a short slant stroke added at the place where the string is pulled, marking the action of drawing or pulling.

Open 引 →

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