泛起 (fàn qǐ) — to rise up and spread (of ripples, feelings, colors, etc.); to appear suddenly (of a smile, blush, or emotion)

Definition

Literary verb: something (a feeling, color, ripples) rises and spreads across a surface or within someone. Used in writing rather than everyday speech.

verb
to rise up and spread (of ripples, feelings, colors, etc.)to appear suddenly (of a smile, blush, or emotion)

Examples

  • 泛起。
    Hú miàn shàng fàn qǐ le céng céng lián yī.
    Ripples spread across the lake's surface.
  • 泛起。
    Tā liǎn shàng fàn qǐ le xìng fú de hóng yùn.
    A happy blush rose on her face.
  • ，泛起。
    Tīng dào zhè ge xiāo xi, tā xīn zhōng fàn qǐ yì sī wēn nuǎn.
    Hearing this news, a trace of warmth welled up in his heart.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

泛fànspread
起qǐrise

泛 spreads and 起 rises, as ripples or feelings well up.

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
乏
乏fá泛fàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

泛 pairs 氵 (water) with 乏, which gives the sound.

Open 泛 →

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
走走zǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
巳
巳sì起qǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

起 is made from 走 and 巳: 走 is the part connected with walking or running, and 巳 gives the sound.

Open 起 →

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