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允许 (yǔn xǔ) — to permit, to allow

Definition

允许 is a formal verb meaning 'to permit / to allow,' often used for rules and official contexts. 让 is the casual everyday equivalent ('let me...'), while 准许 and 许可 are even more formal/official.

verb
to permitto allow

Examples

  • 允许。
    Bà ba bù yǔn xǔ wǒ wán yóu xì.
    Dad doesn't allow me to play games.
  • 允许。
    Zhè lǐ bù yǔn xǔ tíng chē.
    Parking is not allowed here.
  • 允许。
    Lǎo shī yǔn xǔ wǒ men míng tiān jiāo zuò yè.
    The teacher allows us to hand in homework tomorrow.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

允yǔnallow
许xǔallow

Both 允 and 许 mean “allow,” so together they express permission.

Characters in this word

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

允 is drawn as a person with the hands held behind the back.

Open 允 →

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 許; 许 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánspeech; words
Sound part声符shēngfú
午
午wǔ許xǔ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 許 pairs 言, meaning speech or words, with 午 for its sound; 许 is a simplified form.

Open 许 →
Appears in
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