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背负 (bēi fù) — to carry on one's back (a physical load); to bear, to shoulder (a responsibility, burden, expectation)

Definition

背负 is a formal, written word almost always used figuratively for bearing heavy duties, debts, or expectations — not a neutral 'carry'. Compare 负担 (burden, also a noun) and 肩负 (shoulder, more literary/heroic).

verb
to carry on one's back (a physical load)to bearto shoulder (a responsibility, burden, expectation)

Examples

  • 背负。
    Tā bēi fù zhe chén zhòng de lì shǐ shǐ mìng.
    He bears the heavy historical mission.
  • 背负。
    Zhè ge jiā zú bēi fù zhe jù é de zhài wù.
    This family carries a huge debt.
  • 背负。
    Tā cóng xiǎo bēi fù zhe fù mǔ de qī wàng.
    She has borne her parents' expectations since childhood.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

背bèicarry on the back
负fùbear

背 (carry on the back) and 负 (bear) are parallel actions of carrying.

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
月Written in full as肉ròumeat
Sound part声符shēngfú
北
北běi背bèi
Same sound today

背 was first written as 北; 北 gives the sound, and 肉 (meat, written as 月 here) was added to separate it from 北’s north meaning.

Open 背 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 負; 负 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 負 combines 人 (person) and 貝 (cowry), with 人 written as ⺈; the simplified 负 is a later abbreviation.

Open 负 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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