突围 (tū wéi) — to break out of an encirclement (literal or fig…

Definition

A military-style verb meaning to break out of a siege or encirclement; used figuratively for breaking through a difficult situation.

verb

to break out of an encirclement (literal or figurative)

，突围。
Zài jī liè de zhàn dòu zhōng, wǒ men zhōng yú chéng gōng tū wéi.
In the fierce battle, we finally succeeded in breaking out of the encirclement.
，突围。
Zhè jiā gōng sī yù dào le kùn nan, zhèng zài xiǎng bàn fǎ tū wéi.
This company is facing difficulties and is trying to find a way to break through.
，。
Wǒ men tū guò yí cì wéi, dàn shì yòu bèi bāo wéi le.
We broke out of the encirclement once, but were surrounded again.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

突tūbreak through

围wéiencirclement

“突” is to break through and “围” is the encirclement, giving the idea of escaping a siege.

Characters in this word

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

穴犬突

突 shows 犬 (dog) under 穴 (cave; den), as a dog suddenly coming out of a den.

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 圍; 围 is its simplified writing.

囗韋圍

Meaning part形符xíngfú

囗囗wéienclosure

Sound part声符shēngfú

韋

韋wéi圍wéi

Same sound today

The traditional form 圍 pairs 囗 (enclosure) with 韋, which gives the sound; 围 is the simplified form of 圍.

Appears in