梗概 (gěng gài) — outline; gist | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

outlinegist

梗概。
Zhè ge gù shi de gěng gài hěn jiǎn dān.
The outline of this story is very simple.
梗概。
Qǐng nǐ xiān shuō yí xià wén zhāng de gěng gài.
Please first give the gist of the article.
梗概。
Tā zhǐ yòng jǐ fēn zhōng jiù jiǎng wán le diàn yǐng de gěng gài.
He finished telling the movie outline in just a few minutes.

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.

梗gěngmain point

梗 and 概 both point to the main outline, so together they mean a gist or summary.

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.

木更梗

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

更

更gèng梗gěng(r)

Same sound today

梗 has 木 on the left and 更 on the right. The 木 side shows it was a type of plant, while 更 gives the sound.

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

木既概

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mùwood

Sound part声符shēngfú

既

既jì概gài

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

概 pairs 木 (wood) with 既 as its sound part; the character meant a strickle.