救起 (jiù qǐ) — to rescue, to save (someone from danger, often by pulling them up or bringing them to safety)

Definition

A resultative verb meaning 'to rescue / pull (someone) to safety,' often from water, fire, or another dangerous situation. Used with 把 or in passive 被 constructions to show who is rescued.

verb
to rescueto save (someone from danger, often by pulling them up or bringing them to safety)

Examples

  • 救起。
    Xiāo fáng yuán hěn kuài bǎ tā cóng huǒ chǎng zhōng jiù qǐ le.
    The firefighters quickly rescued her from the fire.
  • ，救起。
    Tā diào jìn le hé lǐ, bèi yí wèi rè xīn rén jiù qǐ le.
    He fell into the river and was rescued by a kind-hearted person.
  • ，救起。
    Yī shēng men quán lì qiǎng jiù, zhōng yú bǎ tā jiù qǐ le.
    The doctors did everything they could and finally saved him.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

救jiùrescue
起qǐup

救 means rescue and 起 adds an upward sense, so the meaning is pulling someone up to safety.

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
攴攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
求
求qiú救jiù
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 救, 求 gives the sound, and 攴 is the action part.

Open 救 →

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
走走zǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
巳
巳sì起qǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

起 is made from 走 and 巳: 走 is the part connected with walking or running, and 巳 gives the sound.

Open 起 →

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