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跋涉 (bá shè) — to make an arduous journey (esp. on foot); to trudge; to trek

Definition

A formal/literary verb meaning to trudge or trek through a long, physically demanding journey — usually on foot over rough terrain. The object is typically a route or location (长途跋涉, 跋涉了三天), not a destination verb.

verb
to make an arduous journey (esp. on foot)to trudgeto trek

Examples

  • 跋涉。
    Tā men bá shè le sān tiān cái dào dá mù dì dì.
    They trudged for three days before reaching their destination.
  • ，。
    Jīng guò cháng tú bá shè, tā zhōng yú huí dào jiā xiāng.
    After a long and arduous journey, he finally returned to his hometown.
  • 跋涉。
    Zài shā mò zhōng bá shè fēi cháng xīn kǔ.
    Trekking through the desert is very tough.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

跋bátrudge
涉shècross

跋 and 涉 both describe hard walking, together giving a trek.

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
足足zúfoot
Sound part声符shēngfú
犮
犮bá跋bá
Same sound today

跋 pairs 足 (foot) with 犮, which gives the sound. The 足 part shows that the word is about using the feet.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

涉 combines 水 (water) and 步 (walk), showing someone walking through water.

Open 涉 →
Appears in
Travel & Tourism

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