猎取 (liè qǔ) — to hunt (animals); to seek, to pursue (fame, profit, etc.)

Definition

A formal/literary verb pairing a hunting image with abstract pursuit: literally 'hunt' for animals, but extended to 'pursue' goals like profit, fame, or talent — a written register beyond plain 追求.

verb
to hunt (animals)to seekto pursue (fame, profit, etc.)

Examples

  • 猎取。
    Tā zài sēn lín lǐ liè qǔ dòng wù.
    He hunts animals in the forest.
  • 猎取。
    Tā wèi le míng lì ér liè qǔ jī huì.
    He seeks opportunities for fame and profit.
  • 猎取。
    Gōng sī liè qǔ yōu xiù rén cái.
    The company seeks outstanding talent.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

猎lièhunt
取qǔtake

猎 is hunt and 取 is take; 猎取 is to hunt or obtain.

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
犬犬quǎndog
Sound part声符shēngfú
昔
昔xī猎liè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 猎, the left part 犬 means dog and the right part 昔 provides the sound.

Open 猎 →

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

取 pairs 又 (hand) with 耳 (ear), showing a hand taking an ear, as in taking the ear of fallen prey.

Open 取 →

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