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路子 (lù zi) — (colloquial) way, method, approach; (colloquial) connections, pull, inside track

Definition

路子 (lùzi) is colloquial for both 'way/method' (他很有路子 = he has a knack) and 'connections/pull' (有路子 = having an in). 门路 overlaps both senses but is more written.

noun
(colloquial) waymethodapproach(colloquial) connectionspullinside track
Measure word · 个
Easily confused

Examples

  • 路子，。
    Tā zuò shēng yi hěn yǒu lù zi, zǒng néng zhǎo dào pián yi de huò yuán.
    He really knows his way around business — he can always find cheap suppliers.
  • ，路子。
    Zhè jiàn shì bù hǎo bàn, nǐ dé zhǎo gè hǎo lù zi cái xíng.
    This matter isn't easy to handle — you need to find a good approach.
  • 路子，。
    Tā zài zhèng fǔ lǐ yǒu lù zi, bàn shì bǐ bié rén kuài duō le.
    He has connections in the government, so he gets things done much faster than others.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

路lùroad; way
子zǐ

路 supplies the idea of road or way; 子 contributes no meaning of its own but makes 路子 a colloquial word for method or connections.

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zú
Sound part声符shēngfú
各
各gè路lù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

路 combines 足, a foot, with 各, which supplies the sound.

Open 路 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Abstract ConceptsFriends & Social

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