摆摊 (bǎi tān) — to set up a street stall; to run a street stall

Definition

Separable verb: 摆 and 摊 can split with other elements (摆了一个摊, 摆了半年摊). It means running a street stall or night-market stand selling goods or food.

verb
to set up a street stallto run a street stall

Examples

  • 摆摊。
    Tā zài jiē biān bǎi tān mài shuǐ guǒ.
    He sets up a street stall by the roadside selling fruit.
  • 。
    Tā zài yè shì bǎi le yí gè tān mài xiǎo chī.
    He set up a stall at the night market to sell snacks.
  • ，。
    Tā qù nián bǎi le bàn nián tān, zhuàn le bù shǎo qián.
    He ran a street stall for half a year last year and made quite a bit of money.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

摆bǎiset up
摊tānstall

“摆摊” sets up a stall to sell goods.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 擺; 摆 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
罷
罷bà擺bǎi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 擺 has 手 (hand) with 罷 giving the sound bà; the simplified 摆 is a later shorthand, not the original shape.

Open 摆 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 攤; 摊 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
難
難nán攤tān
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 攤 uses 手 (hand) and 難 for sound.

Open 摊 →

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