赛跑 (sài pǎo) — to race (on foot), to run a race | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

赛跑 means a foot-race — competing by running, not driving (that's 赛车). Broader than 奔跑 ('to run'), which has no competitive sense.

verb

to race (on foot)to run a race

Examples

赛跑。
Tā men zhèng zài cāo chǎng shàng sài pǎo.
They are racing on the playground.
赛跑。
Míng tiān xià wǔ wǒ men sài pǎo ba.
Let's race tomorrow afternoon.
赛跑。
Tā sài pǎo de sù dù fēi cháng kuài.
His racing speed is very fast.

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.

赛sàicontest

The word combines 赛, indicating a contest, with 跑, indicating running, to mean running a race.

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 賽; 赛 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

貝貝bèishell

Sound part声符shēngfú

塞

塞sāi賽sài

Same sound today

The traditional form 賽 uses 貝 (shell) for meaning and 塞 for sound. The simplified 赛 is a later shorthand.

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

足足zúfoot

Sound part声符shēngfú

包

包bāo跑pǎo

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

跑 combines 足, showing a foot, with 包, which gives the sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Sports & Athletics

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