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失陪 (shī péi) — (polite formula) excuse me for leaving; sorry I have to go now

Definition

A polite set phrase said when excusing yourself and leaving a conversation or gathering. It is formal and courteous — used the same way an English speaker might say 'I'm afraid I have to go.'

idiom
(polite formula) excuse me for leavingsorry I have to go now

Examples

  • ，，失陪。
    Bù hǎo yì si, wǒ yǒu jí shì, xiān shī péi le.
    Sorry, I have an urgent matter, I must leave first.
  • ，，失陪。
    Gè wèi, wǒ hái yǒu xiē shì qing yào chǔ lǐ, shī péi le.
    Everyone, I still have some things to take care of. I'll take my leave.
  • 失陪，。
    shī péi, Wǒ men xià cì zài liáo.
    Excuse me, let's talk again next time.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

失shīlose
陪péicompany

失 expresses losing and 陪 the company, literally losing company, hence an excuse to leave.

Characters in this word

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

The shape is explained as a fallen person's footprint surrounded by drops of blood; another reading pairs 手 (hand) and 乙 to show something falling from a hand.

Open 失 →

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
阜阜fùsoil mountain
Sound part声符shēngfú
咅
咅pǒu陪péi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

陪 pairs 阜, a mound of piled-up soil, with 咅 as a sound part; the mound gives the sense of joining up or staying close, as in accompanying.

Open 陪 →
Appears in
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