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起誓 (qǐ shì) — to take an oath; to swear

Definition

A formal verb meaning to take an oath or swear a solemn promise, often before others or in a serious context like a court. More solemn than 发誓, which can be used more casually.

verb
to take an oathto swear

Examples

  • 起誓。
    Tā qǐ shì yào zuò yí gè chéng shí de rén.
    He swore to be an honest person.
  • 。
    Tā zài fǎ tíng shàng qǐ le yí gè shì.
    He took an oath in court.
  • 起誓。
    Tā xiàng fù mǔ qǐ shì yí dìng huì huí lái.
    She swore to her parents that she would definitely come back.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

起qǐraise/take
誓shìoath

'起' means raise/take and '誓' means oath; together take an oath.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánspeech
Sound part声符shēngfú
折
折zhé誓shì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

誓 is built from 言, meaning speech, and 折, which provides the sound. The speech part shows it is about spoken words, such as a vow.

Open 誓 →
Appears in
Communication & Speech

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