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剖析 (pōu xī) — to dissect (anatomy); to analyze thoroughly, to dissect (an issue, text, etc.)

Definition

A formal verb meaning 'to dissect / analyze thoroughly,' used in academic and critical writing. Less common than 分析 for everyday use, and stronger — 剖析 implies laying something open layer by layer, not just analyzing it.

verb
to dissect (anatomy)to analyze thoroughlyto dissect (an issue, text, etc.)

Examples

  • 剖析，。
    Yī shēng zhèng zài pōu xī nà jù shī tǐ, xún zhǎo sǐ yīn.
    The doctor is dissecting that corpse to find the cause of death.
  • 剖析。
    Zhè piān lùn wén pōu xī le shè huì wèn tí de shēn céng yuán yīn.
    This paper dissects the underlying causes of social problems.
  • 剖析。
    Pī píng jiā cóng duō gè jiǎo dù pōu xī zhè bù diàn yǐng de nèi hán.
    Critics dissect the film's meaning from multiple angles.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

剖pōucut open
析xīanalyze

Both 剖 and 析 carry the senses of cutting open and splitting apart, together giving thorough analysis.

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
刂Written in full as刀dāoknife
Sound part声符shēngfú
咅
咅pǒu剖pōu
Same sound today

剖 pairs 刂, a knife, with 咅 for sound, to write cutting something in two.

Open 剖 →

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

析 shows 斤 (axe) next to 木 (wood), depicting an axe splitting wood.

Open 析 →
Appears in
Thinking & Cognition

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