外敌 (wài dí) — foreign enemy | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

foreign enemy

Measure word · 个

，外敌。
Lì shǐ shàng, zhè ge guó jiā duō cì shòu dào wài dí de qīn lüè.
Historically, this country was invaded by foreign enemies many times.
外敌，。
Miàn duì wài dí de wēi xié, quán guó rén mín tuán jié yí zhì.
Facing the threat of foreign enemies, the whole nation united.
，外敌。
Zhǐ yǒu jiā qiáng guó fáng, cái néng dǐ yù wài dí.
Only by strengthening national defense can we resist foreign enemies.

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.

外 (outside) specifies 敌 (enemy), meaning an enemy from outside.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

月

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

外 pairs 卜 with 月, a crescent moon; in its older form, the 卜 part had a horizontal bar extending outward, giving the sense of outside.

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 敵; 敌 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

攴攴pūto tap; to hit

Sound part声符shēngfú

啻

啻chì敵dí

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

The traditional form 敵 pairs 啻 as a sound part with 攴, a part for tapping or hitting.