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站立 (zhàn lì) — to stand; to be standing

Definition

A straightforward verb for a person standing upright. 矗立 is for tall, monumental things like buildings; 立足 is figurative ('have a footing, establish oneself'), not a literal stance.

verb
to standto be standing

Examples

  • 站立，。
    Tā zhàn lì zhe, yí dòng bú dòng.
    He stood there, not moving at all.
  • 站立，。
    Qǐng zhàn lì qǐ lái, ràng lǎo rén zuò xià.
    Please stand up and let the elderly person sit down.
  • 站立。
    zhàn lì Tài jiǔ tuǐ huì suān.
    Standing too long will make your legs sore.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

站zhànstand
立lìstand

Both 站 and 立 express standing, so the word emphasizes being on one's feet.

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
立立lì
Sound part声符shēngfú
占
占zhàn站zhàn
Same sound today

站 has 立 on the left and 占 on the right; 立 relates to standing, and 占 gives the sound.

Open 站 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

立 pictures a person standing on the ground.

Open 立 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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