第一线 (dì yī xiàn) — forefront, front line; the most crucial part (o…

Definition

noun

forefrontfront linethe most crucial part (of an operation, project, etc.)

第一线。
Zhàn shì men chōng dào le dì yī xiàn.
The soldiers rushed to the front line.
第一线。
Tā shǐ zhōng zhàn zài kē yán de dì yī xiàn.
He always stands at the forefront of scientific research.
第一线。
Zhè ge wèn tí shì tán pàn de dì yī xiàn.
This issue is the most crucial part of the negotiation.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

第一first

前缀Prefix

第一 gives the sense of foremost or number one, and 线 gives the sense of line, so together they picture the front line or most crucial position.

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

𥫗Written in full as竹zhúbamboo

Sound part声符shēngfú

弟

Same sound today

第 shows 𥫗, the bamboo strips once used for writing and sorting, with 弟 giving the sound.

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

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 線; 线 is its simplified writing.

糹泉線

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糹Written in full as糸mì

Sound part声符shēngfú

泉

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

The traditional form 線 uses 糹 (silk/thread) to show the meaning and 泉 to suggest the sound; the simplified 线 is a later shorthand.