施放 (shī fàng) — to discharge (a substance, such as gas, smoke); to fire (a signal, flare, etc.)

Definition

施放 means releasing or launching a substance or signal (gas, smoke, flares, fireworks). It is more formal and technical than 放 in this sense, and is commonly used in military, emergency, and ceremonial contexts.

verb
to discharge (a substance, such as gas, smoke)to fire (a signal, flare, etc.)

Examples

  • 施放。
    Jūn duì shī fàng le yān wù dàn.
    The military discharged a smoke bomb.
  • 施放。
    Tā men shī fàng xìn hào dàn qiú jiù.
    They fired a signal flare to ask for help.
  • 施放。
    Jié rì lǐ rén men huì shī fàng yān huā.
    During festivals, people set off fireworks.

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.

施shīrelease
放fàngdischarge

施 and 放 both mean to release or let out, so together they mean to discharge gas or a signal.

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
㫃㫃㫃
Sound part声符shēngfú
也
也yě施shī
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

施 pairs 㫃, the part connected to its meaning, with 也, the part giving its sound.

Open 施 →

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 →

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