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发令 (fā lìng) — to issue an order, to give a command

Definition

发令 is a formal, often sports/competition verb meaning 'to give the starting command or signal' — used when an official (referee, captain) issues the go-ahead. More specialized than 命令 ('to order').

verb
to issue an orderto give a command

Examples

  • 发令。
    Duì zhǎng zhèng zài fā lìng.
    The captain is issuing orders.
  • ，。
    Tā fā le yí gè lìng, dà jiā lì kè xíng dòng.
    He gave an order, and everyone acted immediately.
  • ，发令。
    Bǐ sài kāi shǐ qián, cái pàn fā lìng.
    Before the game starts, the referee gives the command.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

发fāissue; send
令lìngorder; command

“发” means issue or send, and “令” means order, yielding the sense of issuing a command.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 發; 发 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 发 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (爆发, 出发) it is 發; in others (理发, 头发) it is 髮.

The form 發, which 发 stands for in many words, was originally drawn as a bow firing an arrow.

Open 发 →

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

  • 亼亼jí
  • 卩卩jié

In 令, the upper 亼 is an open mouth and the lower 卩 is a kneeling person, together showing someone giving orders.

Open 令 →
Appears in
Communication & Speech

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