起跑 (qǐ pǎo) — to start a race (in track and field) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

verb

to start a race (in track and field)

Examples

，起跑。
Cái pàn yì shēng lìng xià, suǒ yǒu xuǎn shǒu tóng shí qǐ pǎo.
The referee gave the order, and all the runners started at the same time.
起跑，。
Tā qǐ pǎo de sù dù fēi cháng kuài, hěn kuài jiù lǐng xiān le.
His starting speed was very fast, and he quickly took the lead.
。
Yùn dòng yuán zài qǐ pǎo xiàn shàng zuò hǎo zhǔn bèi.
The athletes got ready on the starting line.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

起 gives the sense of beginning, and 跑 names the running action, together giving the start of 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.

走巳起

Meaning part形符xíngfú

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.

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

Sports & Athletics

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.