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奉陪 (fèng péi) — to keep someone company (polite, formal)

Definition

A formal, polite verb meaning 'to keep someone company' — used when graciously accepting an invitation or offering to accompany someone. Pairs with 到底 in the set phrase 奉陪到底 ('see it through to the end').

verb
to keep someone company (polite, formal)

Examples

  • ，奉陪。
    Rú guǒ nǐ xiǎng qù gōng yuán, wǒ kě yǐ fèng péi nǐ yì qǐ qù.
    If you want to go to the park, I can come with you.
  • 奉陪。
    Tā dā ying huì fèng péi kè rén yóu lǎn zhěng gè chéng shì.
    He promised to accompany the guests to tour the whole city.
  • ，奉陪。
    Nǐ fàng xīn, wǒ yí dìng fèng péi dào dǐ.
    Don't worry, I will stay with you to the very end.

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.

奉fèngrespectfully
陪péiaccompany

奉 conveys respectful service and 陪 means accompany, describing courteous company.

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
廾廾gǒngtwo hands
Sound part声符shēngfú
丰
丰fēng奉fèng
Same sound today

奉 pairs 丰 for the pronunciation with 廾, 'two hands', as the meaning part.

Open 奉 →

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
Friends & SocialGreetings & Politeness

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