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命中 (mìng zhōng) — to hit a target, to hit the mark

Definition

命中 (mìngzhōng) is a formal/written verb meaning a shot, strike, or guess 'hits the mark'. Common in fixed phrases like 命中率 (hit rate); less natural than 击中 in casual speech.

verb
to hit a targetto hit the mark

Examples

  • 命中。
    Tā mìng zhōng le mù biāo.
    He hit the target.
  • 命中。
    Zhè kē zǐ dàn méi yǒu mìng zhōng.
    This bullet didn't hit.
  • 命中。
    Tā de cāi cè mìng zhōng le.
    His guess hit the mark.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
主谓zhǔwèiSubject + predicate

A small sentence frozen into a word: something, and what it does or is.

命mìngtarget
中zhōnghit

命 (target) and 中 (hit) combine to mean the target is hit.

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

命 combines 口, a mouth, with 令, which gives the sound.

Open 命 →

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

The original picture showed a flagpole with a drum in the middle, set up in the center of a field.

Open 中 →
Appears in
Sports & Athletics

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