搭伴 (dā bàn) — to travel together, to team up (for a trip or task)

Definition

A colloquial verb meaning 'to team up or travel together' with someone for a trip or task. Often used with 跟 (+ person) or 找个/人 to mean finding a companion.

verb
to travel togetherto team up (for a trip or task)

Examples

  • 搭伴，。
    Wǒ men dā bàn qù běi jīng ba, lù shang yǒu gè zhào yìng.
    Let's travel to Beijing together, so we can look out for each other on the way.
  • ，。
    Zhè cì chū chāi, wǒ xiǎng gēn tā dā gè bàn.
    For this business trip, I want to team up with him.
  • ，搭伴。
    Yí gè rén pá shān tài wēi xiǎn, zuì hǎo zhǎo gè rén dā bàn.
    Climbing a mountain alone is too dangerous; it's best to find someone to go with.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

搭dājoin
伴bàncompanion

搭 “join” and 伴 “companion” combine to mean forming a pair for travel or work.

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
荅
荅dá搭dā
Same sound today

搭 is built from 扌, a hand, and 荅, which gives the sound. The hand part points to actions done with the hand.

Open 搭 →

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
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
半
半bàn伴bàn
Same sound today

伴 puts 亻 (person) beside 半. The person part fits the meaning of companion, and 半 gives the sound.

Open 伴 →

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