桥梁 (qiáo liáng) — (literal) bridge; (figurative) bridge (somethin… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

桥梁 is a formal/written word for 'bridge,' used for both the literal structure and the figurative sense of something connecting two sides. More literary than the everyday 桥, and often used metaphorically (e.g. 友谊的桥梁).

noun

(literal) bridge(figurative) bridge (something that connects two sides)

Measure word · 座

Examples

桥梁。
Zhè zuò qiáo liáng shì qù nián jiàn chéng de.
This bridge was completed last year.
桥梁。
Xìn rèn shì yǒu yì de qiáo liáng.
Trust is the bridge of friendship.
桥梁。
Zhè zuò qiáo liáng měi tiān dōu yǒu hěn duō chē jīng guò.
Many cars pass through this bridge every day.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

桥 and 梁 both refer to spanning structures; together they mean a bridge.

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 橋; 桥 is its simplified writing.

木喬橋

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mùwood

Sound part声符shēngfú

喬

喬qiáo橋qiáo

Same sound today

The traditional form 橋 pairs 木 (wood) with 喬 (qiáo), which gave the character its sound; the simplified 桥 is a later abbreviation.

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

水水shuǐwater

木木mùwood

Sound part声符shēngfú

刅

刅chuāng梁Liáng

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

梁 pairs 水 (water) and 木 (wood) to show a bridge, with 刅 giving the sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 6 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Buildings & Structures

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