复合型 (fù hé xíng) — composite, compound, inter-disciplinary (often of talents, skills, or expertise)

Definition

Used to describe a person or skill that combines multiple fields or abilities (e.g. 复合型人才 = a versatile, cross-disciplinary talent). Applies mainly to expertise, not physical objects.

adjective
compositecompoundinter-disciplinary (often of talents, skills, or expertise)

Examples

  • 复合型。
    Qǐ yè xiàn zài gèng xǐ huan zhāo pìn fù hé xíng rén cái.
    Companies now prefer to recruit composite talents.
  • 复合型。
    Zhè ge péi xùn xiàng mù zhǐ zài péi yǎng fù hé xíng néng lì.
    This training program aims to cultivate compound abilities.
  • 复合型。
    Tā shì wǒ men tuán duì de fù hé xíng zhuān jiā.
    He is a composite expert in our team.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

复合composite
复fùmultiple合hécombine
偏正Modifier + head
型xíngtype

复 and 合 suggest putting multiple elements together, and 型 marks a type.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 復; 复 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 复 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (复习, 恢复) it is 復; in others (复印, 复杂) (答复, 反复) it is 複 or 覆.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
彳彳chìwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
复
复fù復fù
Same sound today

The traditional form 復 combines 彳, a walking part, with 复, a sound part, to show walking back and forth.

Open 复 →

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

合 shows 亼 and 口 arranged as two mouths speaking together.

Open 合 →

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
土土tǔearth
Sound part声符shēngfú
刑
刑xíng型xíng
Same sound today

型 pairs 土 (earth) with 刑, which supplies the sound; the shape shows an earthen mold, hence form or pattern.

Open 型 →

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