誊 (téng) — to transcribe; to copy by hand

Definition

A formal/written verb meaning to copy a document by hand, used for manuscripts, records, or other official text. It is a separable verb: insert 誊 between the object and 完/过/一下 (e.g. 誊完, 誊一遍).

verb
to transcribeto copy by hand
Easily confused

Examples

  • 誊。
    Qǐng bǎ zhè fèn shǒu gǎo téng yí biàn.
    Please make a copy of this manuscript.
  • 誊。
    Tā huā le sān tiān shí jiān téng wán le yì běn jiù shū.
    It took him three days to finish transcribing an old book.
  • 。
    Zhè xiē zī liào xū yào chóng xīn téng xiě.
    These materials need to be transcribed again.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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 謄; 誊 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánsay
Sound part声符shēngfú
朕
朕zhèn謄téng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 謄 pairs 言 (say) with the sound 朕; the simplified 誊 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical parts.

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.