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致歉 (zhì qiàn) — to apologize (formal)

Definition

致歉 is a formal verb meaning 'to apologize', typically used in official or public statements (e.g. by companies or institutions). More formal than everyday 道歉.

verb
to apologize (formal)

Examples

  • 致歉。
    Tā yīn wèi zì jǐ de cuò wù xiàng dà jiā zhì qiàn.
    He apologized to everyone for his own mistake.
  • 致歉。
    Gōng sī yǐ jīng jiù cǐ shì gōng kāi zhì qiàn.
    The company has publicly apologized regarding this matter.
  • ，。
    Tā dāng zhòng zhì le qiàn, dà jiā cái yuán liàng tā.
    He apologized publicly, and only then did everyone forgive him.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

致zhìexpress
歉qiànapology

致 means express and 歉 means apology, so it means to offer an apology.

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
攵Written in full as攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
至
至zhì致zhì
Same sound today

致 pairs 至, used for its sound, with 攵, written in full as 攴.

Open 致 →

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
欠欠qiànperson with mouth open
Sound part声符shēngfú
兼
兼jiān歉qiàn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

歉 uses 兼 for its sound; 兼 is drawn as a hand holding two crop plants. It also uses 欠, a person with mouth open, to show feeling hunger after eating.

Open 歉 →
Appears in
Greetings & Politeness

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