更替 (gēng tì) — to alternate, to change (by successive replacement)

Definition

更替 (gēngtì) means one thing systematically replacing another over time (seasons, leadership, generations) — a more formal, written word than 替换 or 更换, which fit everyday 'replace/swap' actions.

verb
to alternateto change (by successive replacement)

Examples

  • 更替。
    Chūn xià qiū dōng sì jì xiāng hù gēng tì.
    Spring, summer, autumn, and winter alternate with each other.
  • 更替。
    Zhè ge gōng sī měi nián dōu huì gēng tì yí cì lǐng dǎo céng.
    This company rotates its leadership once every year.
  • 更替。
    Xīn jiù wén huà de gēng tì xū yào shí jiān.
    The transition between old and new cultures takes time.

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.

更gèngchange
替tìreplace

"更" and "替" both mean change or replace, so together they express successive replacement.

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.

Open 更 →

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

替 combines 竝, two figures side by side, with 曰; the picture shows those figures changing places.

Open 替 →

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