上缴 (shàng jiǎo) — to turn over (funds, documents, goods) to a higher authority

Definition

Means to hand something over (funds, goods, profits) to a higher authority — an official, top-down transfer, not a casual return. 交 is neutral; 上缴 emphasizes 'up the chain' to a superior body like the state.

verb
to turn over (funds, documents, goods) to a higher authority

Examples

  • 上缴。
    Suǒ yǒu fá kuǎn bì xū shàng jiǎo guó kù.
    All fines must be turned over to the state treasury.
  • 上缴。
    Bù duì zài yǎn xí jié shù hòu shàng jiǎo le duō yú dàn yào.
    The unit turned over surplus ammunition after the exercise.
  • 上缴。
    Gōng sī měi nián àn guī dìng shàng jiǎo lì rùn de bǎi fēn zhī èr shí.
    The company turns over 20% of its profits each year as stipulated.

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.

上shàngup
缴jiǎopay in

上 gives the upward direction of 缴, meaning hand it in.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

上 is drawn as a short horizontal line placed above a longer arc, marking a position above that arc.

Open 上 →

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 繳; 缴 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìsilk
Sound part声符shēngfú
敫
敫jiǎo繳jiǎo
Same sound today

The traditional form 繳 pairs 糸, silk, with 敫 for its sound; it meant raw silk thread. The simplified 缴 is a later shorthand.

Open 缴 →

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