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劫机 (jié jī) — to hijack an airplane

Definition

Verb meaning 'to hijack an airplane' — a set phrase (离合词) made of 劫 (seize/rob) and 机 (short for 飞机 airplane); the second element can be repeated as 劫机劫机 in colloquial speech.

verb
to hijack an airplane

Examples

  • 劫机。
    Tā men jì huà jié jī.
    They planned to hijack an airplane.
  • 。
    Tā jié guò liǎng cì jī.
    He has hijacked airplanes twice.
  • 劫机。
    Zhè cì jié jī shì jiàn zhèn jīng le quán shì jiè.
    This hijacking incident shocked the whole world.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

劫jiéseize
机jīairplane

“劫” means seize by force and “机” refers to aircraft, giving hijack an airplane.

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
力力lìpower, force
Sound part声符shēngfú
去
去qù劫jié
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

劫 pairs 去, which gives the sound, with 力, meaning power or force.

Open 劫 →

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
木木mùtree; wood
Sound part声符shēngfú
几
几jǐ机jī
Same sound today

The left part is 木 (tree; wood), and the right part 几 gives the sound.

Open 机 →
Appears in
Air TravelCrime & Police

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