环抱 (huán bào) — to encircle, to surround | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

环抱 (huánbào) is a literary verb meaning 'to encircle / surround / embrace' — picture-like, used for mountains, arms, or scenery wrapping around something. Stronger and more poetic than plain 围 (wéi).

verb

to encircleto surround

Easily confused

怀抱huái bàolook-alike(verb) to hold in one's arms; to hug

Examples

环抱。
Qún shān huán bào de xiǎo cūn zhuāng fēi cháng níng jìng.
The small village surrounded by mountains is very peaceful.
环抱。
Tā wēn róu dì huán bào zhe hái zi.
She gently embraced the child.
环抱，。
Hú shuǐ bèi qīng shān huán bào, jǐng sè hěn měi.
The lake is encircled by green hills, and the scenery is beautiful.

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.

环huánencircle

抱bàoembrace

环 'encircle' + 抱 'embrace' means to surround.

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 環; 环 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

玉玉yùjade

Sound part声符shēngfú

睘

睘qióng環huán

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 環 pairs 玉 (jade) with a sound part; the simplified 环 is a shorthand and its right side is not the historical sound part.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

扌包抱

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒu

Sound part声符shēngfú

包

Same sound today

抱 pairs 扌 (hand) with 包; the hand part shows holding, while 包 supplies the sound and the sense of wrapping.

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