摘自 (zhāi zì) — to be excerpted from; to be taken from (a source)

Definition

摘自 is a formal written verb used to cite a source — 'excerpted from / taken from'. It is typically used in the passive (A 摘自 B, 'A is taken from B'), not as a transitive action by a person.

verb
to be excerpted fromto be taken from (a source)

Examples

  • 摘自《》。
    Zhè piān wén zhāng zhāi zì 《rén mín rì bào》.
    This article is excerpted from People's Daily.
  • 摘自。
    Zhè duàn huà zhāi zì yì běn zhù míng de lì shǐ shū jí.
    This passage is taken from a famous history book.
  • 摘自。
    Gāi zī liào zhāi zì guān fāng wǎng zhàn.
    This material is excerpted from the official website.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

摘zhāiextract
自zìfrom

“摘” extracts and “自” indicates the source, together meaning taken from.

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
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.

Open 摘 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

自 originally drew a nose. It was borrowed purely for its sound to write 自, so the picture and the meaning are unrelated.

Open 自 →

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