在教 (zài jiāo) — to be a believer (in a religion), to be religious

Definition

在教 means to be religious, to be a believer — used for people and whole families (e.g. 他们家世代都在教 'their family have been believers for generations').

verb
to be a believer (in a religion)to be religious

Examples

  • 在教。
    Tā men jiā shì dài dōu zài jiāo.
    Their family has been believers for generations.
  • 。
    Tā nián qīng shí zài guò nián jiào.
    He was a believer when he was young.
  • 在教。
    Zhè ge cūn zi hěn duō rén dōu zài jiāo.
    Many people in this village are believers.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

在zàibe in
教jiàoreligion

在 (be in) + 教 (religion) means being within a faith.

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.

The early form of 在 used 才 for its sound; a second sound part 士 was added later, and that 士 became the 土 seen in 在.

Open 在 →

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
子子zǐchild
攵Written in full as攴pūteaching cane; stick that represents authority
Sound part声符shēngfú
爻
爻yáo教jiào
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

教 uses 爻 for its sound and puts 子 (child) with 攵 (攴), a teaching cane, to show teaching a child.

Open 教 →

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