保准 (bǎo zhǔn) — (adjective) reliable, dependable, trustworthy; (verb) to guarantee, to assure, to ensure

Definition

An adjective ('reliable, dependable') and a verb ('to guarantee, to assure') in one — built from 保证 (guarantee) + 准 (accurate). The first example is a quick colloquial confirmation, like 'trust me, it works'.

adjective
reliabledependabletrustworthy
verb
to guaranteeto assureto ensure

Examples

  • 保准，。
    Zhè ge fǎ zi bǎo zhǔn, nǐ shì shì jiù zhī dào le.
    This method is reliable — just try it and you'll see.
  • 保准。
    Wǒ bǎo zhǔn tā míng tiān yí dìng huì lái.
    I assure you he will definitely come tomorrow.
  • ，保准。
    Nǐ àn wǒ shuō de zuò, bǎo zhǔn méi cuò.
    Do it as I say, I guarantee it's correct.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

保bǎoguarantee
准zhǔnsure

The idea of 保 as guarantee joined with 准 as sure gives reliable.

Characters in this word

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

保 originally showed a person 人 carrying a child 子 on their back, which led to the sense of protecting.

Open 保 →

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 準; 准 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
隼
隼sǔn準zhǔn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 準, not 准, pairs 水 (water) with 隼 as a sound part; the evidence describes it as 'water level'.

Open 准 →

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