英烈 (yīng liè) — heroic martyr (one who died heroically); (attributive) heroic, valorous, of martyrs

Definition

A respectful, written term for 'heroic martyr' — someone who died a hero for a cause. Almost always used attributively before a noun like 纪念碑 or 事迹, and carries a solemn, commemorative tone.

adjective
heroic martyr (one who died heroically)(attributive) heroicvalorousof martyrs

Examples

  • 英烈。
    Rén mín yǒng yuǎn huái niàn zhè xiē yīng liè.
    The people will forever remember these heroic martyrs.
  • 英烈。
    Wǒ men cān guān le yīng liè jì niàn bēi.
    We visited the monument to the heroic martyrs.
  • 英烈。
    Tā de yīng liè shì jì jī lì le yí dài rén.
    His heroic martyred deeds inspired a generation.

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.

英yīngheroic
烈lièfierce

英 and 烈 both carry heroic force, together naming a heroic martyr or deed.

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
艹Written in full as艸cǎograss
Sound part声符shēngfú
央
央yāng英yīng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

英 pairs 艹 (grass) with 央, which gives the sound.

Open 英 →

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
灬Written in full as火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
列
列liè烈liè
Same sound today

烈 pairs 列 for the sound with 灬, a form of 火 (fire).

Open 烈 →

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