初见 (chū jiàn) — to meet or see for the first time

Definition

Literary verb meaning 'to meet for the first time' (a person or a scene). Stronger and more written than everyday 认识 (which just means to know someone); 初见 emphasizes the very first encounter.

verb
to meet or see for the first time

Examples

  • 初见。
    Wǒ men chū jiàn shí shì zài xué xiào de tú shū guǎn.
    We first met in the school library.
  • 。
    Zhè ge xiàng mù yǐ jīng chū jiàn chéng xiào.
    This project has already begun to show results.
  • 初见，。
    Nà shì wǒ chū jiàn tā de chǎng jǐng, zhì jīn nán wàng.
    That was the scene where I first saw her, unforgettable to this day.

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.

初chūfirst
见jiànsee or meet

初 gives first, and 见 gives see or meet; together they mean to see someone for the first time.

Characters in this word

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

初 combines 衤 (clothes) and 刀 (knife), showing the start of making clothes by cutting cloth.

Open 初 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 見; 见 is its simplified writing.

  • 目目mùeye
  • 卩卩jiékneeling person

The traditional form 見 pairs 目 (eye) with 卩 (kneeling person), showing a kneeling figure with a large eye for a head. The simplified 见 is a later shorthand.

Open 见 →

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