伏兵 (fú bīng) — ambush troops; troops lying in ambush

Definition

Soldiers hidden in position to surprise the enemy — the troops themselves, not the act of ambushing. The act is 埋伏 or 伏击.

noun
ambush troopstroops lying in ambush
Easily confused

Examples

  • 伏兵。
    Tā men zài shù lín lǐ shè xià le fú bīng.
    They set up ambush troops in the forest.
  • 伏兵。
    Dí rén méi fā xiàn lù páng de fú bīng.
    The enemy didn't notice the troops in ambush by the road.
  • 伏兵。
    Gǔ dài zhàn zhēng zhōng cháng yòng fú bīng qǔ shèng.
    In ancient warfare, ambush troops were often used to win battles.

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.

伏fúambush
兵bīngtroops

伏 (ambush) describes 兵 (troops), giving troops lying in ambush.

Characters in this word

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

伏 combines 人 (person) and 犬 (dog), as a dog beside a person or a person taking a dog's low posture, to show lying prostrate.

Open 伏 →

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

  • 斤斤jīna short axe
  • 廾廾gǒng2 hands

兵 combines 斤, a short axe, with 廾, two hands, showing a pair of hands holding a weapon.

Open 兵 →

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