助理 (zhù lǐ) — assistant | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

助理 is a more formal title for an 'assistant,' usually a job position. 助手 is a more general word for 'helper,' and 帮手 is a casual spoken term.

assistant

Measure word · 个

助理。
Wǒ de zhù lǐ bāng wǒ chǔ lǐ le hěn duō wén jiàn.
My assistant helped me process a lot of documents.
助理。
Tā yìng pìn le jīng lǐ zhù lǐ de zhí wèi.
She applied for the position of manager's assistant.
助理。
Zhè wèi zhù lǐ gōng zuò fēi cháng rèn zhēn fù zé.
This assistant is very conscientious and responsible in their work.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

理lǐmanagement

助 means help and 理 means management, so it refers to someone who helps with management.

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.

且力助

Meaning part形符xíngfú

力力lìstrong arm

Sound part声符shēngfú

且

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

助 pairs 力, a strong arm, with 且, which gives the sound; the meaning is help with strength.

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

玉玉yùjade

Sound part声符shēngfú

里

Same sound today

理 pairs 玉 (jade) with 里, which shows how to say it; the jade part points to the old sense of polishing jade.

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