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赌注 (dǔ zhù) — stake (in gambling or a risky venture)

Definition

赌注 literally means what is 'wagered' (the bet itself), but in modern usage it commonly means the 'stakes' — what is risked or on the line in a venture, not just gambling. Pairs with verb 下 (下赌注 'place a bet') and 押.

noun
stake (in gambling or a risky venture)
Measure word · 笔

Examples

  • 赌注。
    Tā bǎ quán bù jiā chǎn dōu yā zài le zhè ge dǔ zhù shàng.
    He staked all his family property on this bet.
  • 赌注，。
    Zhè cì tán pàn de dǔ zhù tài dà le, shuí dōu bù gǎn qīng yì ràng bù.
    The stakes in this negotiation are too high; no one dares make concessions easily.
  • 赌注，。
    Tóu zī zhě miàn lín de dǔ zhù bù jǐn jǐn shì jīn qián, hái yǒu shēng yù.
    The stakes faced by investors are not just money, but also reputation.

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.

赌dǔgamble
注zhùstake

赌 contributes gambling and 注 the stake, together giving the amount risked.

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 賭; 赌 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
貝貝bèishell; money
Sound part声符shēngfú
者
者zhě賭dǔ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 賭 combines 貝 (shell; money) with 者, and this shape expresses the meaning to wager or to bet. The simplified 赌 is a shorthand.

Open 赌 →

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
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
主
主zhǔ注zhù
Same sound today

注 combines 水, meaning water, with 主, which gives the sound.

Open 注 →
Appears in
Gambling & Chance

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