采取 (cǎi qǔ) — to adopt, to take (measures, policies, actions)

Definition

采取 is used for actively choosing and putting a measure, policy, or approach into practice. Versus 制定 (drafting new rules) and 采用 (picking a method/technique), it emphasizes implementing an existing option rather than creating it.

verb
to adoptto take (measures, policies, actions)

Examples

  • 采取。
    Zhèng fǔ bì xū cǎi qǔ yǒu xiào cuò shī jiě jué zhè ge wèn tí.
    The government must take effective measures to solve this problem.
  • 采取。
    Xué xiào cǎi qǔ le xīn de jiào xué fāng fǎ.
    The school adopted new teaching methods.
  • ,采取。
    Miàn duì kùn nan, wǒ men yào cǎi qǔ jī jí de tài dù.
    Facing difficulties, we should adopt a positive attitude.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

采cǎichoose
取qǔtake

采 means to choose, and 取 means to take; together they mean to adopt a course.

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 採; 采 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 采 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (采访, 采购) it is 採; in others it is 采.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
采
采cǎi採cǎi
Same sound today

The traditional form 採 combines 扌 (hand) with 采, which gives the sound and means to pick.

Open 采 →

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

取 pairs 又 (hand) with 耳 (ear), showing a hand taking an ear, as in taking the ear of fallen prey.

Open 取 →

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