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用武之地 (yòng wǔ zhī de) — (set phrase) a place or situation where one can put one's skills to good use; a suitable field for one's talents

Definition

A set phrase meaning a place where your skills and talents can actually be put to use. Often negated as 没有用武之地 to mean there's no room to apply one's abilities.

noun
(set phrase) a place or situation where one can put one's skills to good usea suitable field for one's talents

Examples

  • 用武之地，。
    Tā zài zhè ge gōng sī zhǎo dào le yòng wǔ zhī de, zhōng yú kě yǐ fā huī zì jǐ de tè cháng.
    He found a place in this company where his talents could be used, finally able to put his strengths to work.
  • ，用武之地。
    Zhè lǐ de gōng zuò tài jiǎn dān, duì zhè wèi zhuān jiā lái shuō méi yǒu yòng wǔ zhī de.
    The work here is too simple — there's no place for this expert to use his skills.
  • 用武之地。
    Xīn de kē jì lǐng yù gěi qīng nián chuàng yè zhě tí gōng le guǎng kuò de yòng wǔ zhī de.
    The new fields of technology offer young entrepreneurs a broad arena to apply their abilities.

Origin

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.

用 was formed by adding a handle to an earlier form.

Open 用 →

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

武 puts 戈 (dagger-axe) above 止 (foot/to walk), showing an army going on an expedition.

Open 武 →

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

The shape pairs 止, a foot, with 一, a beginning place, and means to go.

Open 之 →

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
土土tǔearth
Sound part声符shēngfú
也
也yě地dì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

地 is built from 土 (earth) and 也, which gives its sound.

Open 地 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set Phrases

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