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放水 (fàng shuǐ) — to turn on the water (let water flow); to let water out; to drain; (slang, sports) to throw a game; to play below one's ability deliberately

Definition

Literal sense: to release or drain water. Slang sense in sports: to deliberately lose or play below one's ability.

verb
to turn on the water (let water flow)to let water outto drain(slang, sports) to throw a gameto play below one's ability deliberately

Examples

  • 放水。
    Xǐ zǎo qián yào xiān fàng shuǐ.
    You need to turn on the water before showering.
  • 放水。
    Yóu yǒng chí de shuǐ yǐ jīng fàng shuǐ le.
    The water in the swimming pool has already been drained.
  • 。
    Tā zài bǐ sài zhōng gù yì fàng le yì chǎng shuǐ.
    He deliberately threw a game during the match.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

放fànglet out
水shuǐwater

放 means let out and 水 means water: let water out.

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
攵Written in full as攴pūhand, action
Sound part声符shēngfú
方
方fāng放fàng
Same sound today

放 uses 方 for its sound and 攵, a hand/action part, to mark an action of release.

Open 放 →

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

水 is a simple drawing of water flowing.

Open 水 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Sports & Athletics

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