起用 (qǐ yòng) — to reinstate (someone in a former position, especially after a break); to appoint or promote (someone to an important role)

Definition

起用 means to bring someone back into service in a senior role — either reinstating a veteran after a break or promoting someone new to an important post. Almost always collocates with people, not objects.

verb
to reinstate (someone in a former position, especially after a break)to appoint or promote (someone to an important role)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 起用。
    Gōng sī jué dìng qǐ yòng yì pī yǒu jīng yàn de lǎo yuán gōng huí lái zhǐ dǎo xīn rén.
    The company decided to reinstate a group of experienced former employees to guide new hires.
  • ，起用。
    Wèi le gǎi gé, xiào zhǎng dà dǎn qǐ yòng le jǐ wèi nián qīng jiào shī dān rèn xì zhǔ rèn.
    To push through reforms, the principal boldly promoted several young teachers to serve as department heads.
  • 起用。
    Zhèng fǔ qǐ yòng le yí wèi zī shēn wài jiāo guān chǔ lǐ zhè cì tán pàn.
    The government appointed a seasoned diplomat to handle these negotiations.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

起qǐraise
用yòngemploy

起 means raise and 用 means employ, so 起用 describes lifting someone into a role.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
走走zǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
巳
巳sì起qǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

起 is made from 走 and 巳: 走 is the part connected with walking or running, and 巳 gives the sound.

Open 起 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

用 was formed by adding a handle to an earlier form.

Open 用 →

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