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驯服 (xùn fú) — tame; docile; tractable

Definition

Adjective meaning 'tame / docile / tractable', often used of animals (or figuratively of a person, a difficulty, a force) that has been brought under control. Can also be used as a verb meaning 'to tame'.

adjective
tamedociletractable

Examples

  • 驯服。
    Nà pǐ yě mǎ zhōng yú bèi xùn fú le.
    That wild horse was finally tamed.
  • 驯服。
    Tā biàn de shí fēn xùn fú.
    He became very docile.
  • 驯服。
    Kùn nan méi yǒu xùn fú tā de jué xīn.
    Difficulties did not tame his determination.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

驯xùntame
服fúobey

驯 and 服 both suggest tame obedience, giving docile.

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 馴; 驯 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
馬馬mǎ
Sound part声符shēngfú
川
川chuān馴xùn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 馴 uses 馬 (horse) for the meaning and 川 for the sound; the simplified 驯 is a later shorthand.

Open 驯 →

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
凡凡fántray
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠬝
𠬝𠬝服fú
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 服, the part 𠬝 was the original picture for 'to subdue'; the added left part 凡, a tray, later changed shape.

Open 服 →
Appears in
Animals & MammalsPersonality & Traits

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