支护 (zhī hù) — (noun) support structure, shoring; (verb) to support, to shore up

Definition

A technical mining/construction term for the support structure (shoring, bracing) that holds up a tunnel or excavation. Used as a noun for the system itself and as a verb for the act of installing it.

noun
support structureshoring
verb
to supportto shore up

Examples

  • 支护。
    Gōng rén men zhèng zài zhī hù suì dào.
    Workers are shoring up the tunnel.
  • 支护。
    Zhè zhǒng zhī hù jié gòu fēi cháng jiān gù.
    This type of support structure is very sturdy.
  • 支护。
    Tā men xū yào jiā qiáng zhī hù.
    They need to reinforce the support.

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.

支zhīsupport
护hùprotect

支 (support) and 护 (protect) combine into support and protection.

Characters in this word

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

支 pairs 又 (hand) with 十, a shortened form of 竹 (bamboo), to picture a bamboo branch.

Open 支 →

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shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
户
户hù护hù
Same sound today

护 combines 扌 (the hand form 手) with 户, which gives the sound hù.

Open 护 →

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