语义 (yǔ yì) — (noun) the meaning of a word, phrase, or sentence; semantics

Definition

Semantics, the literal or conceptual meaning of a word or sentence (as studied in linguistics). Pairs with 语法 (grammar/form) to contrast meaning vs. structure.

noun
the meaning of a wordphraseor sentencesemantics
Easily confused

Examples

  • 语义，。
    Zhè ge cí de yǔ yì fēi cháng fēng fù, yǒu duō céng hán yì.
    The semantics of this word are very rich, with multiple layers of meaning.
  • ，语义。
    Zài fān yì shí, nǐ bì xū zhǔn què lǐ jiě yuán wén de yǔ yì.
    When translating, you must accurately understand the semantics of the original text.
  • ，语义。
    Zhè liǎng gè jù zi biǎo miàn xiāng sì, dàn yǔ yì wán quán bù tóng.
    These two sentences are superficially similar, but their semantics are completely different.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

语yǔlanguage
义yìmeaning

语义 builds from 语 'language' and 义 'meaning', giving the sense of the meaning of language.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 語; 语 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
吾
吾wú語yǔ
Same sound today

The form 語 pairs 言 (speech) with 吾, which gives the sound; this note is about 語, not 语.

Open 语 →

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 義; 义 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
羊羊yáng
Sound part声符shēngfú
我
我wǒ義yì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 義 has 我 giving the sound and 羊 meaning good or auspicious; the simplified 义 is a later abbreviation.

Open 义 →

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