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阵地 (zhèn dì) — (military) position; front; (figurative) stronghold; key position (in a competitive field)

Definition

阵地 is a military 'position/stronghold' — broader and more specific than 前线 (the moving front line). 堡垒 is a defensive fortification; 阵地 is the area a unit holds, also used for a key position in a competitive field.

noun
(military) positionfront(figurative) strongholdkey position (in a competitive field)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 阵地。
    Dí rén shì tú gōng zhàn wǒ men de zhèn dì.
    The enemy tried to capture our position.
  • 阵地。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī tōng guò jì shù chuàng xīn gǒng gù le shì chǎng zhèn dì.
    This company consolidated its market position through technological innovation.
  • ，阵地。
    Zài xué shù biàn lùn zhōng, tā jiān shǒu zì jǐ de zhèn dì.
    In the academic debate, he held his ground.

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.

阵zhènformation
地dìground

阵 for formation and 地 for ground together name a military position.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 陣; 阵 is its simplified writing.

  • 東東dōngsack?
  • 東東dōng
  • 攴攴pū

In the traditional form 陣, a left-side part was added to a shortened 東; the older shape also used 攴. The simplified 阵 is a later shorthand.

Open 阵 →

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

地 is built from 土 (earth) and 也, which gives its sound.

Open 地 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Military & Defense

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