结拜 (jié bài) — to become sworn brothers or sisters (through a ritual)

Definition

A cultural ritual in which unrelated people formally become sworn siblings, treating each other as family with lifelong loyalty. The bond is stronger and more binding than ordinary friendship (朋友).

verb
to become sworn brothers or sisters (through a ritual)

Examples

  • 结拜。
    Tā men sān gè rén zài miào lǐ jié bài chéng le xiōng dì.
    The three of them became sworn brothers in the temple.
  • 结拜。
    Wǒ hé tā jié bài yǐ jīng yǒu shí nián le.
    He and I have been sworn siblings for ten years already.
  • 结拜。
    Gǔ dài hěn duō rén tōng guò jié bài lái jiàn lì shēn hòu de guān xì.
    In ancient times, many people established deep bonds through sworn brotherhood.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

结jiéform a bond
拜bàibowing ritual

结 means to form a bond and 拜 refers to the bowing ritual, together meaning to become sworn.

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 →

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

拜 combines 扌 (hand, written fully as 手) with 𠦪 (herbs), showing a hand holding herbs as a gift.

Open 拜 →

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