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杂技 (zá jì) — acrobatics

Definition

noun
acrobatics
Measure word · 场

Examples

  • 杂技。
    Zhè chǎng zá jì yǎn chū xī yǐn le hěn duō rén.
    This acrobatics show attracted a lot of people.
  • 杂技。
    Cóng xiǎo xué zá jì xū yào hěn dà de yì lì.
    Learning acrobatics from a young age requires great perseverance.
  • 杂技。
    Tā céng zài guó wài biǎo yǎn guò zá jì.
    He once performed acrobatics abroad.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

杂zámixed
技jìskill

杂 (mixed) and 技 (skills) together point to a mixed repertoire of bodily skills.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 雜; 杂 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
衣衣yī
Sound part声符shēngfú
集
集jí雜zá
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 雜 pairs 衣 (clothes) with 集 as a sound part, originally referring to mixed colours, perhaps in dyed clothes; the simplified 杂 is a later shorthand.

Open 杂 →

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
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
支
支zhī技jì
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

技 pairs 扌 (hand) with 支, which gives the sound. The hand part fits the idea of skill or ability done with the hands.

Open 技 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Dance & Performance

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