集邮 (jí yóu) — to collect stamps; stamp collecting; philately

Definition

A verb-object compound meaning 'to collect stamps' (a hobby). The 集 means 'to collect' and 邮 refers to mail/stamps; often used as a noun phrase when the object is understood.

verb
to collect stampsstamp collectingphilately

Examples

  • 集邮。
    Tā xǐ huan jí yóu.
    He likes stamp collecting.
  • 。
    Tā jí le shí nián yóu.
    He collected stamps for ten years.
  • 集邮。
    jí yóu Shì tā de ài hào.
    Stamp collecting is his hobby.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

集jícollect
邮yóustamps

'集' means collect and '邮' refers to stamps, so collecting stamps.

Characters in this word

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

集 pairs 隹 (bird) with 木 (tree), showing birds on a tree, hence a gathering.

Open 集 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 郵; 邮 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 郵 pairs 垂 (“far, remote”) with 邑 (“city”) to show a relay station; the simplified 邮 is a later shorthand.

Open 邮 →

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