结下 (jié xià) — to form (a relationship, connection, grudge, etc.)

Definition

结下 (jiē) is a literary verb meaning 'to form' a bond or grudge — only used with objects like 友谊, 仇, or 缘. Note the pronunciation: jiē, not jié.

verb
to form (a relationship, connection, grudge, etc.)

Examples

  • 结下。
    Tā men jié xià le shēn hòu de yǒu yì.
    They formed a deep friendship.
  • 结下。
    Tā men jié xià le bù jiě zhī yuán.
    They formed an unbreakable bond.
  • 结下。
    Tā hé xiǎo lǐ jié xià le chóu.
    He and Xiao Li formed a grudge.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

结jiétie or form
下xiàdown

结 means to tie or form, and 下 adds the sense of becoming fixed, as in forming a bond.

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 結; 结 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
吉
吉jí結jié
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 結 pairs 糸 with 吉; 吉 gives the sound, and 糸 relates to the meaning. The simplified 结 is a later shorthand.

Open 结 →

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

下 is drawn as a short horizontal line below a long curved line.

Open 下 →

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