() — to raise, to lift; to cite, to give (an example); to elect, to choose

Definition

举 covers two main uses: physically raising something (举手, 举杯), and citing/electing (举例, 选举). For 'cite an example', 举例 is the common set phrase; 引用 (HSK7) is for quoting sources.

verb
to raiseto liftto citeto give (an example)to electto choose

Examples

  • Tā jǔ qǐ le yòu shǒu.
    He raised his right hand.
  • Qǐng nǐ jǔ yí gè lì zi.
    Please give an example.
  • Wǒ men jǔ tā dāng dài biǎo.
    We elected him as our representative.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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 舉; 举 is its simplified writing.

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

The traditional form 舉 pairs 與, which gives the sound, with 手, a hand; the simplified 举 is a later shorthand.

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