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利器 (lì qì) — sharp weapon, cutting instrument; effective tool, efficient instrument

Definition

Literally 'sharp weapon' (e.g. a blade), but used figuratively for any highly effective tool or asset for achieving a goal — see examples 2–3. The figurative sense is the one you'll meet most in modern text.

noun
sharp weaponcutting instrumenteffective toolefficient instrument
Measure word · 把

Examples

  • 利器。
    Zhè bǎ dāo shì yì bǎ lì qì.
    This knife is a sharp weapon.
  • 利器。
    Hù lián wǎng shì xiàn dài shāng yè de lì qì.
    The internet is a powerful tool for modern business.
  • 利器。
    Zhǎng wò yì mén wài yǔ shì qiú zhí de lì qì.
    Mastering a foreign language is an advantage in job hunting.

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.

利lìsharp
器qìinstrument

利 gives sharpness, and 器 names an instrument or tool.

Characters in this word

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

利 combines 禾 (grain) and 刀 (knife), showing a knife used to cut grain.

Open 利 →

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

The origin of 器 is uncertain; one traditional account reads the whole shape as a scene of guarding over four vessels.

Open 器 →
Appears in
Miscellaneous Objects

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