到访 (dào fǎng) — to visit (formally); to arrive for a visit | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A formal verb meaning 'to visit' or 'to pay a visit' (often used for officials, delegations, or important guests — e.g. 国家主席到访美国). Use it instead of the plain 访问 in official, written, or news contexts.

verb

to visit (formally)to arrive for a visit

Examples

到访。
Guó jiā zhǔ xí jiāng yú xià ge yuè dào fǎng měi guó.
The national chairman will visit the US next month.
到访。
Zuó tiān yǒu yí gè wài guó dài biǎo tuán dào fǎng wǒ men gōng sī.
Yesterday a foreign delegation visited our company.
到访。
Zhè shì tā dì yī cì dào fǎng zhōng guó.
This is his first time visiting China.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

到 arrive and 访 visit describe coming to see someone.

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

至至zhìto arrive

Sound part声符shēngfú

刀

刀dāo到dào

Same sound today

到 combines 至, meaning 'to arrive', with 刀 as the sound part. The 至 part points to the idea of reaching a stopping point.

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 訪; 访 is its simplified writing.

言方訪

Meaning part形符xíngfú

言言yántalk

Sound part声符shēngfú

方

方fāng訪fǎng

Same sound today

The traditional form 訪 pairs 言 (talk) with 方 to give the sound; the simplified 访 is a shorthand, so its right side is not the historical part.

Appears in

Travel & Tourism

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