歃血为盟 (shà xuè wéi méng) — to swear a blood oath; to make a solemn pledge of alliance

Definition

A formal, literary chengyu meaning 'to swear a blood oath of alliance' — a solemn, ritualistic pledge rooted in ancient Chinese custom. Stronger and more archaic than everyday phrases like 承诺 or 宣誓.

idiom
to swear a blood oathto make a solemn pledge of alliance

Examples

  • 歃血为盟，。
    Tā men shà xuè wéi méng, fā shì yǒng bú bèi pàn.
    They swore a blood oath, vowing never to betray each other.
  • 歃血为盟。
    Gǔ dài jiàng lǐng cháng yǐ shà xuè wéi méng lái gǒng gù tóng méng.
    Ancient generals often used blood oaths to strengthen alliances.
  • 歃血为盟。
    Zhè bù xiǎo shuō miáo xiě le liǎng wèi yīng xióng shà xuè wéi méng de gù shi.
    This novel describes the story of two heroes swearing a blood oath.

Origin

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
欠欠qiànto yawn
Sound part声符shēngfú
臿
臿chā歃shà
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

歃 uses 臿 for sound and 欠, a part about yawning.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 一一yīdrop of blood
  • 皿皿mǐncontainer

The shape shows 一, a drop of blood, inside 皿, a container, for blood held in a sacrificial vessel.

Open 血 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 為; 为 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 為 showed a hand holding an elephant; the simplified 为 is a later shorthand.

Open 为 →

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
囧囧jiǒng
Sound part声符shēngfú
皿
皿mǐn盟méng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

盟 pairs 囧 with 皿, and 皿 gives the sound.

Open 盟 →

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