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取乐 (qǔ lè) — to seek pleasure, to amuse oneself

Definition

取乐 (qǔlè) means to seek fun or amusement, often at something else's expense. The second example 大家取了个乐 shows the common 把-complement: take something AS one's fun (主谓结构).

verb
to seek pleasureto amuse oneself

Examples

  • 取乐。
    Tā xǐ huan zài zhōu mò qǔ lè.
    He likes to amuse himself on weekends.
  • ，。
    Dà jiā qǔ le gè lè, xiào dé hěn kāi xīn.
    Everyone had a bit of fun and laughed happily.
  • 取乐。
    Bié ná bié rén de tòng kǔ qǔ lè.
    Don't amuse yourself at others' expense.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

取qǔseek
乐lèpleasure

「取」 means seek and 「乐」 means pleasure, so it means to seek pleasure.

Characters in this word

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

取 pairs 又 (hand) with 耳 (ear), showing a hand taking an ear, as in taking the ear of fallen prey.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 樂; 乐 is its simplified writing.

In the traditional form 樂, 絲 (string) with 木 (wood) shows strings on a piece of wood, a musical instrument; the simplified 乐 is a later shorthand.

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Appears in
Hobbies & Pastimes

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