逐 (zhú) — (bound form) to pursue; to chase; (bound form) to expel; to banish; to drive out; (bound form) one by one; gradually (in compounds like 逐渐, 逐步, 逐个)

Definition

逐 is a bound form used inside compounds, rarely alone. In 逐步 / 逐渐 / 逐个 it means 'one by one / gradually'; in 驱逐 it means 'expel'.

bound form
to pursueto chaseto expelto banishto drive outone by onegradually (in compounds like 逐渐, 逐步, 逐个)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 。
    Wǒ men yào zhú bù tí gāo gōng zuò xiào lǜ.
    We need to gradually improve work efficiency.
  • 。
    Qíng kuàng zhú jiàn hǎo zhuǎn le.
    The situation gradually improved.
  • 。
    Zhèng fǔ qū zhú le fēi fǎ yí mín.
    The government expelled illegal immigrants.

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

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

  • 辵辵chuòwalking
  • 豕豕shǐpig

逐 joins 辵, shown as walking, with 豕, a pig, to picture someone chasing a pig.

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