爱将 (ài jiāng) — trusted lieutenant; favorite general or close subordinate

Definition

Literally 'beloved general,' a figurative term for a leader's most trusted and favored subordinate — more personal and affectionate than a neutral word for assistant or deputy.

noun
trusted lieutenantfavorite general or close subordinate
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 爱将。
    Nà wèi jiāng jūn de ài jiāng bāng tā dǎ le hěn duō shèng zhàng.
    That general's trusted lieutenant helped him win many battles.
  • 爱将。
    Tā shì dǒng shì zhǎng shēn biān zuì shòu xìn rèn de ài jiāng.
    He is the most trusted lieutenant beside the chairman.
  • ，爱将。
    Zài wēi jī shí kè, ài jiāng men zǒng shì dì yī gè zhàn chū lái.
    In times of crisis, the trusted lieutenants are always the first to step up.

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.

爱àilove
将jiānggeneral

Love and general combine to mean a general who is loved or trusted.

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 愛; 爱 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
旡
旡jì愛ài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

For the traditional form 愛, an older shape paired 心 (heart) with 旡 as its sound part; later a foot-like 夊 was added below. The simplified 爱 is a later variant that replaces the lower part with 友.

Open 爱 →

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 將; 将 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺼Written in full as肉ròumeat
寸寸cùnhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
爿
爿pán將jiāng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 將 combines 爿, which also supplies a sound and may show a small table, with ⺼ (meat) and 寸 (hand) to picture offering meat as tribute. The simplified 将 is a later shorthand.

Open 将 →

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