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回话 (huí huà) — to reply; to answer; to bring back word

Definition

回话 (huí huà) means 'to reply' or 'bring back word' — usually to report or answer someone on their behalf, often via a messenger or go-between.

verb
to replyto answerto bring back word

Examples

  • 回话。
    Qǐng jǐn kuài gěi wǒ huí huà.
    Please reply to me as soon as possible.
  • 。
    Tā hái méi huí wǒ de huà.
    He still hasn't replied to me.
  • 。
    Nǐ bāng wǒ gěi tā huí gè huà.
    Help me send him a reply.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

回huíreturn; reply
话huàwords; message

回 conveys returning or answering, and 话 conveys words or a message, together meaning to reply or bring back a message.

Characters in this word

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

回 comes from a drawing of a spiral, showing something turning around.

Open 回 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 話; 话 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánword
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠯑
𠯑𠯑話huà
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In the traditional form 話, 言 relates to words and 𠯑 gives the sound; the simplified 话 is a shorthand, so its right side is not that sound part.

Open 话 →
Appears in
Communication & Speech

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