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交叉 (jiāo chā) — to intersect, to cross (roads, lines); (of time, subjects) to overlap, to be interdisciplinary

Definition

交叉 covers two main uses: roads or lines physically crossing, and topics/time overlapping across fields. 叉 is the simpler verb 'to fork/cross' (roads); 交叉 adds the sense of interdisciplinary overlap.

verb
to intersectto cross (roads, lines)(of time, subjects) to overlapto be interdisciplinary

Examples

  • 交叉。
    Zhè liǎng tiáo gōng lù zài chéng wài jiāo chā.
    These two highways cross outside the city.
  • 交叉。
    Wǒ men de gōng zuò shí jiān yǒu jiāo chā.
    Our work hours overlap.
  • 交叉。
    Zhè shì yí gè jiāo chā xué kē de yán jiū.
    This is an interdisciplinary research project.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

交jiāocross
叉chāfork

“交” and “叉” both suggest lines meeting or crossing, together meaning intersect.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

交 originally drew a human with crossed legs. In the modern shape, the upper part resembles a standing person.

Open 交 →

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

The form 叉 is made by combining 又 with the dot stroke 丶.

Open 叉 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Shapes

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