递补 (dì bǔ) — to fill a vacancy in sequential order; to be the next in line to take a position

Definition

A formal verb meaning to fill a vacancy by moving up in a pre-set order — the next person on the list takes the open position. Typical in roster, election, or organizational contexts.

verb
to fill a vacancy in sequential orderto be the next in line to take a position

Examples

  • ，递补。
    Tā yīn shāng tuì sài, yóu pái míng dì sān de xuǎn shǒu dì bǔ.
    He withdrew due to injury, and the third-ranked player filled the vacancy.
  • ，递补。
    Rú guǒ zhǔ rèn diào zǒu, fù zhǔ rèn jiāng zì rán dì bǔ.
    If the director is transferred away, the deputy director will naturally take the position in order.
  • 递补。
    Míng dān shàng de hòu bǔ zhě huì àn shùn xù dì bǔ.
    The substitutes on the list will fill vacancies in order.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

递dìin order
补bǔfill

递 (in order) and 补 (fill) give filling a vacancy as the next person.

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
辶Written in full as辵chuò
Sound part声符shēngfú
弟
弟dì递dì
Same sound today

递 is built from 辶 (written in full as 辵) and 弟; 辶 is the meaning part and 弟 is the sound part.

Open 递 →

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 補; 补 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
衤Written in full as衣yīclothes
Sound part声符shēngfú
甫
甫fǔ補bǔ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 補 shows 衤 (clothes) beside 甫, which gives the sound; the simplified 补 is a later shorthand, so its shape is not the historical breakdown.

Open 补 →

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