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创造 (chuàng zào) — to create, to bring about; to set (a record)

Definition

创造 means to create or bring something new into being — broader and more neutral than 创作 (artistic/literary creation) and 创新 (innovation of methods). Contrast with 造成, which focuses on causing consequences rather than making new things.

verb
to createto bring aboutto set (a record)

Examples

  • 创造。
    Tā chuàng zào le yì fú měi lì de huà.
    He created a beautiful painting.
  • 创造。
    Zhè ge tuán duì chuàng zào le xīn de chǎn pǐn.
    This team created a new product.
  • 创造。
    Tā chuàng zào le yí xiàng shì jiè jì lù.
    He set a world record.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

创chuàngcreate
造zàomake

创 and 造 both mean make or create, so together they emphasize bringing something new into being.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 創; 创 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
刀刀dāoknife
Sound part声符shēngfú
倉
倉cāng創chuàng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 創 pairs 倉 with 刀 (knife) to write 'wound', and 倉 gives the pronunciation. The simplified 创 is a later shorthand.

Open 创 →

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
辵辵chuòto walk
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
屮
屮chè造zào
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

Its origin is unclear, but early forms of 造 include 辵 (to walk) and 口, with 屮 as a sound part, and mean go or arrive.

Open 造 →
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