选址 (xuǎn zhǐ) — to select a site, to choose a location

Definition

Formal verb used in business, urban planning, and real estate for 'choosing a location.' Focuses on the analytical process of picking a site, not casual placement.

verb
to select a siteto choose a location

Examples

  • 选址。
    Gōng sī zhèng zài wèi xīn de fēn gōng sī xuǎn zhǐ.
    The company is selecting a site for its new branch.
  • 选址。
    Zhè ge tuán duì huā le sān gè yuè xuǎn zhǐ.
    This team spent three months selecting a site.
  • 选址。
    Tā men jué dìng zài chéng shì zhōng xīn xuǎn zhǐ.
    They decided to select a site in the city center.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

选xuǎnchoose
址zhǐsite

选 means choose and 址 means site, so the action is choosing a place for something.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 選; 选 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
止止zhǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
巽
巽xùn選xuǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 選 combines 止 with 巽, which gives the sound xùn; its sense of choosing is explained as rejecting or sending someone back. Simplified 选 is a shorthand.

Open 选 →

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
土土tǔearth
Sound part声符shēngfú
止
止zhǐ址zhǐ
Same sound today

址 pairs 土 (earth) with 止, which gives the sound. The 土 part points to ground or foundation.

Open 址 →

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