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解决 (jiě jué) — to solve, to resolve, to settle (a problem, difficulty, dispute); to eliminate, to wipe out (an enemy, threat, obstacle)

Definition

解决 is the general word for 'solving' or 'resolving' a problem, issue, or difficulty. It's broader than 解答 (which is mainly for questions/answers) and 破案 (which is specifically for criminal cases).

verb
to solveto resolveto settle (a problem, difficulty, dispute)to eliminateto wipe out (an enemy, threat, obstacle)

Examples

  • 解决。
    Wǒ jiě jué le zhè ge wèn tí.
    I solved this problem.
  • 解决？
    Nǐ néng bāng zhù wǒ jiě jué zhè ge kùn nan ma?
    Can you help me solve this difficulty?
  • 解决。
    Wǒ men bì xū jiě jué zhè ge wèn tí.
    We must solve this problem.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

解jiěuntie
决juésettle

解 means to untie, and 决 means to settle, giving the sense of resolving a problem.

Characters in this word

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

解 shows 刀 (knife) separating 角 (horn) from 牛 (cow), giving the picture of cutting up an ox.

Open 解 →

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 決; 决 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
夬
夬guài決jué
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 決 has 氵 (water) and 夬, which gives the sound. This describes 決, not the simplified 决.

Open 决 →
Appears in
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