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遗址 (yí zhǐ) — historical site; ruins; archaeological site

Definition

遗址 is the physical place where historical remains stand today — broader than 古迹 (a recognized historic site) and more specific than 废墟 (any ruins, no historical value).

noun
historical siteruinsarchaeological site
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 遗址。
    Zhè ge yí zhǐ shì zuì jìn cái bèi fā xiàn de.
    This historical site was only discovered recently.
  • 遗址。
    Měi nián yǒu hěn duō yóu kè lái cān guān zhè ge gǔ dài yí zhǐ.
    Every year many tourists come to visit this ancient site.
  • 遗址。
    Zhèng fǔ zhèng zài bǎo hù zhè ge zhòng yào de yí zhǐ.
    The government is protecting this important historical site.

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.

遗yíleft behind
址zhǐsite

A 址 left behind by 遗 from an earlier time.

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 遺; 遗 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辶Written in full as辵chuòmove
Sound part声符shēngfú
貴
貴guì遺yí
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 遺 pairs 辶 (move) with 貴 as a sound part; the simplified 遗 is a shorthand, and its right side is not the old sound part.

Open 遗 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6History

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