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顶梁柱 (dǐng liáng zhù) — pillar; backbone; mainstay (figuratively, of a person or key role)

Definition

Literally the ridge-beam pillar of a roof — used figuratively for the person who holds a family, team, or organization together. Almost always praises someone's irreplaceable role.

noun
pillarbackbonemainstay (figuratively, of a person or key role)
Measure word · 根

Examples

  • 顶梁柱。
    Tā shì wǒ men tuán duì de dǐng liáng zhù.
    He is the backbone of our team.
  • ，顶梁柱。
    Lǎo lǐ tuì xiū hòu, gōng sī shī qù le yí gè zhòng yào de dǐng liáng zhù.
    After Lao Li retired, the company lost an important pillar.
  • 顶梁柱，。
    Tā zài jiā lǐ jiù shì yì gēn dǐng liáng zhù, chēng qǐ le zhěng gè jiā tíng.
    At home he is the pillar who supports the whole family.

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.

顶梁support the beam
顶dǐngsupport梁liángbeam
动宾Verb + object
柱zhùpillar

A 柱 that 顶梁, or supports the beam, is the main support of a house.

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 頂; 顶 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
頁頁yèhead
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng頂dǐng
Same sound today

The traditional form 頂 pairs 頁, meaning head, with 丁, which supplies the sound; the simplified 顶 is a later abbreviation.

Open 顶 →

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
水水shuǐwater
木木mùwood
Sound part声符shēngfú
刅
刅chuāng梁Liáng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

梁 pairs 水 (water) and 木 (wood) to show a bridge, with 刅 giving the sound.

Open 梁 →

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
木木mùwood
Sound part声符shēngfú
主
主zhǔ柱zhù
Same sound today

The left part 木 shows that 柱 is connected with wood. The right part 主 gives the pronunciation.

Open 柱 →
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