横跨 (héng kuà) — to stretch over/across, to span | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

横跨 is a formal verb meaning 'to span across' (time or space), used for bridges crossing rivers or careers/influence spanning fields or eras. It is more literary than everyday cross words like 跨越.

verb

to stretch over/acrossto span

Examples

横跨，。
Zhè zuò dà qiáo héng kuà cháng jiāng, lián jiē liǎng àn.
This bridge spans the Yangtze River, connecting the two banks.
横跨，。
Tā de shì yè héng kuà duō gè lǐng yù, fēi cháng chéng gōng.
His career spans multiple fields and is very successful.
横跨，。
Zhè zuò jiàn zhù héng kuà sān gè shì jì, lì shǐ yōu jiǔ.
This building spans three centuries, with a long history.

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.

跨kuàstride/span

横 gives the direction across, and 跨 means to straddle or span.

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 橫; 横 is its simplified writing.

木黃橫

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mùwood

Sound part声符shēngfú

黃

黃huáng橫héng

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

The traditional form 橫 has 木, meaning wood, beside 黃, which supplies the sound; the simplified 横 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

Sound part声符shēngfú

夸

夸kuā跨kuà

Same sound today

The left part 足, a foot, points to stepping or striding, while the right part 夸 gives the sound.

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