逼近 (bī jìn) — to approach, to close in on (often of threats, deadlines, or forces)

Definition

逼近 (bī jìn) means 'to close in on' something threatening or imminent — enemy forces, storms, deadlines. Stronger and more menacing than 接近 or 临近 (which just mean 'to get near').

verb
to approachto close in on (often of threats, deadlines, or forces)

Examples

  • 逼近。
    Dí rén de jūn duì zhèng cóng sì miàn bī jìn.
    Enemy troops are closing in from all sides.
  • 逼近。
    Tái fēng zhèng zài bī jìn yán hǎi chéng shì.
    The typhoon is approaching the coastal cities.
  • 逼近,。
    Jiāo gǎo rì qī yì tiān tiān bī jìn, wǒ xīn lǐ hěn zháo jí.
    The submission deadline is drawing closer day by day, and I'm very anxious.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

逼bīpress toward

逼 gives the sense of pressing toward, and 近 supplies the nearness reached.

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
畐
畐fú逼bī
Same sound today

逼 pairs 辶, which carries the meaning, with 畐, which gives the sound.

Open 逼 →

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chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
斤
斤jīn近jìn
Same sound today

近 combines 辶, a walking radical, with 斤, which gives the sound. The walking part fits the idea of moving close to something.

Open 近 →

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