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经纬 (jīng wěi) — (noun) warp and woof; (noun) longitude and latitude; (noun) main points; key aspects

Definition

Literary term literally meaning the warp and woof of fabric, extended to mean longitude and latitude (geography) or the main threads of a plan or argument.

noun
warp and wooflongitude and latitudemain pointskey aspects

Examples

  • 经纬。
    Zhè zhāng dì tú biāo míng le chéng shì de jīng wěi.
    This map marks the longitude and latitude of the city.
  • 经纬，。
    Tā zuò shì hěn yǒu jīng wěi, cóng bù huāng luàn.
    He handles things with clear main points and never panics.
  • 经纬。
    Xué xí lì shǐ yào zhǎng wò shì jiàn de jīng wěi.
    Studying history requires grasping the main points of events.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

经jīngwarp
纬wěiwoof

经 (warp) and 纬 (woof) together form grid lines, extended to longitude and latitude or main points.

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 經; 经 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mìsilk; thread
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng經jīng
Same sound today

The traditional form 經 combines 糹 (silk; thread) with 巠, which gives the sound.

Open 经 →

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 緯; 纬 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìthread
Sound part声符shēngfú
韋
韋wéi緯wěi
Same sound today

The traditional form 緯 has 糸, thread, on the left and 韋 on the right for the sound. The simplified 纬 is a later shorthand.

Open 纬 →
Appears in
HSK 2.0 Level 6

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