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吸取 (xī qǔ) — to absorb (e.g. liquid, nutrients); to draw, learn from (e.g. lessons, experience)

Definition

吸取 pairs almost exclusively with abstract nouns — 教训, 经验, 智慧 — meaning 'to draw (a lesson / insight)'. For literal absorption of liquids/nutrients use 吸收; for learning from others' methods use 借鉴.

verb
to absorb (e.g. liquid, nutrients)to drawlearn from (e.g. lessons, experience)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 吸取。
    Nǐ yīng gāi cóng zhè cì shī bài zhōng xī qǔ jiào xùn.
    You should draw a lesson from this failure.
  • ，吸取。
    Tā rèn zhēn tīng kè, xī qǔ le lǎo shī jiǎng de zhī shi.
    He listened carefully in class and absorbed the knowledge the teacher explained.
  • 吸取。
    Wǒ men yào cóng lì shǐ zhōng xī qǔ zhì huì.
    We should draw wisdom from history.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

吸xīabsorb
取qǔtake

吸取 joins 吸 (absorb) and 取 (take), suggesting drawing in liquid or learning from experience.

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
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
及
及jí吸xī
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

吸 pairs 口 (mouth) with 及, which gives the sound and relates to grabbing, so the shape suggests grabbing through the mouth.

Open 吸 →

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.

Open 取 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Thinking & Cognition

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