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更新 (gēng xīn) — to update; to renew; to upgrade; to bring up to date

Definition

更新 is a general-purpose 'to update / renew' (software, data, ideas). 比 升级 (version/level upgrade) broader, and softer than 翻新 (physical renovation).

verb
to updateto renewto upgradeto bring up to date

Examples

  • 更新。
    Qǐng jì de gēng xīn nǐ de mì mǎ.
    Please remember to update your password.
  • 更新。
    Zhè dòng dà lóu xū yào gēng xīn le.
    This building needs to be renovated.
  • 更新。
    Wǒ de zī liào yǐ jīng gēng xīn guò le.
    My information has already been updated.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

更gèngchange
新xīnnew

更 “change” and 新 “new” yield the sense of making something new again.

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pūhand holding a whip; action
Sound part声符shēngfú
𰀒
𰀒𰀒更gēng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The old form showed two chariots, 𰀒; 攴, a hand holding a whip, was added to show action, and one chariot part was dropped. The remaining part changed into the shape seen in 更.

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Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
斤斤jīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
辛
辛xīn新xīn
Same sound today

The shape originally paired 斤, for chopping wood, with 辛 for sound. It was borrowed for its sound to write 新, so the chopping-wood parts are unrelated to 'new'.

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Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 6Change & ProcessComputers & Internet

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