采摘 (cǎi zhāi) — to pick; to pluck | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

采摘 (cǎi zhāi) is a more formal/literary way to say 'pick, pluck' (flowers, fruit, tea) than the plain verb 摘. Also covers gathering samples, like 采.

verb

to pickto pluck

采摘。
Tā měi tiān qù huā yuán cǎi zhāi xīn xiān de huā.
He goes to the garden every day to pick fresh flowers.
采摘。
Nóng mín men zài qiū tiān cǎi zhāi pú tao niàng jiǔ.
The farmers pick grapes to make wine in autumn.
采摘，。
Zhè xiē cǎo méi shì zuó tiān zǎo shàng cǎi zhāi de, fēi cháng tián.
These strawberries were picked yesterday morning and are very sweet.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéSide by side

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

“采” and “摘” both mean picking, so together they emphasize plucking or gathering.

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.

扌采採

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

采

Same sound today

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

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

扌啇摘

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

啇

啇dí摘zhāi

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

摘 is made from 扌, a hand, and 啇, which gives its sound.

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