摘录 (zhāi lù) — to extract, to make excerpts (from a text)

Definition

verb

to extractto make excerpts (from a text)

摘录。
Tā cóng nà běn shū zhōng zhāi lù le yì xiē zhòng yào duàn luò.
He extracted some important paragraphs from that book.
摘录。
Zhè piān lùn wén zhāi lù le qián rén de yán jiū chéng guǒ.
This paper extracts the research results of predecessors.
摘录。
Jì zhě zhāi lù le yǎn jiǎng zhōng de guān jiàn jù zi.
The reporter extracted key sentences from the speech.

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.

摘 'extract' and 录 'record' combine for taking and writing down excerpts.

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.

扌啇摘

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

啇

啇dí摘zhāi

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

摘 is made from 扌, a hand, and 啇, which gives its sound.

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 錄; 录 is its simplified writing.

金彔錄

Meaning part形符xíngfú

金金jīnmetal

Sound part声符shēngfú

彔

彔lù錄lù

Same sound today

The traditional form 錄 combines 金 (metal) with 彔, which gives the sound; the simplified 录 is a shorthand, so its parts are not the historical parts.