模范 (mó fàn) — (noun, adjective) model, fine example

Definition

A person or group held up as a 'model' worth emulating — focuses on moral or professional excellence. Unlike 榜样 (a person to follow) and 典范 (a formal, written paragon), 模范 is the everyday label for 'model worker/citizen/spouse' (e.g. 模范员工).

(noun, adjective) modelfine example
Measure word ·

Examples

  • 模范
    Tā shì wǒ men gōng sī zuì yōu xiù de mó fàn yuán gōng.
    He is the most outstanding model employee in our company.
  • 模范
    Zhāng lǎo shī yì shēng jiāo shū yù rén, shì quán tǐ jiào shī de mó fàn.
    Teacher Zhang spent his life teaching and nurturing students, and is a model for all teachers.
  • 模范
    Wǒ men yào xiàng zhè wèi mó fàn shì mín xué xí.
    We should learn from this model citizen.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

model
fànpattern

模 (model) and 范 (pattern) together give the sense of a fine example.

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
tree
Sound part声符shēngfú
Same sound today

The left part 木 is tree; the right part 莫 gives the sound.

Open 模 →

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
cǎograss
Sound part声符shēngfú
fánfàn
Same sound today

范 pairs 艸 (grass) with 氾, which gives its sound.

Open 范 →

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