候补 (hòu bǔ) — to be a candidate (for a position); to be an alternate; to serve as a substitute

Definition

候补 means 'to be on the waiting list / an alternate' — someone who steps in only if the main candidate is unavailable. Implies a formal queue or backup role, not just being one of many applicants.

verb
to be a candidate (for a position)to be an alternateto serve as a substitute

Examples

  • 候补。
    Tā zhèng zài hòu bǔ zhè ge zhí wèi.
    He is currently a candidate for this position.
  • 候补。
    Tā hòu bǔ le sān nián cái zhèng shì dāng xuǎn.
    He was an alternate for three years before being formally elected.
  • 候补。
    Gōng sī jué dìng ràng tā hòu bǔ zǒng jīng lǐ.
    The company decided to make him a candidate for general manager.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

候hòuwait
补bǔfilling

The waiting idea is directed toward 补, the filling of a vacancy.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
矦
矦hóu候hòu
Same sound today

候 combines 亻, relating to people, with 矦, which gives the sound.

Open 候 →

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 補; 补 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
衤Written in full as衣yīclothes
Sound part声符shēngfú
甫
甫fǔ補bǔ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 補 shows 衤 (clothes) beside 甫, which gives the sound; the simplified 补 is a later shorthand, so its shape is not the historical breakdown.

Open 补 →

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