死囚 (sǐ qiú) — convict awaiting execution

Definition

noun

convict awaiting execution

Measure word · 个

死囚。
Nà ge sǐ qiú zài jiān yù lǐ děng dài zuì hòu de pàn jué.
That death row inmate is waiting for the final verdict in prison.
死囚。
sǐ qiú De qīn shǔ kě yǐ shēn qǐng zuì hòu yí cì tàn shì.
The relatives of a convict awaiting execution can apply for one last visit.
死囚。
Fǎ guān xuān dú le duì yú sǐ qiú de zhí xíng lìng.
The judge read out the execution order for the convict awaiting execution.

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.

囚qiúprisoner

死 (death) and 囚 (prisoner) combine to mean a prisoner facing execution.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

尸

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

死 is built from 歹 and 尸: 歹 is the part tied to the meaning, and 尸 gives the sound.

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

囗人囚

囚 puts 人 (person) inside 囗 (box, enclosure), making a person enclosed, hence prisoner.

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