局部 (jú bù) — part; section (of a whole, often contrasted with the whole); (attributive) local; partial (as in 局部地区, 局部麻醉)

Definition

局部 means 'part' or 'local', typically contrasted with the whole (整体). More abstract/scientific than 部分, and used as an adjective for 'local' areas or 'partial' effects like 局部麻醉.

noun
partsection (of a whole, often contrasted with the whole)(attributive) localpartial (as in 局部地区, 局部麻醉)

Examples

  • 局部。
    Zhè ge wèn tí de jú bù wǒ men yǐ jīng jiě jué le.
    We have already solved the partial problem.
  • 局部,。
    Shǒu shù cǎi yòng le jú bù má zuì, bìng rén shì qīng xǐng de.
    The surgery used local anesthesia; the patient was awake.
  • 局部,。
    Míng tiān jú bù dì qū huì yǒu dà yǔ, chū mén jì de dài sǎn.
    Some local areas will have heavy rain tomorrow; remember to bring an umbrella when you go out.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

局júsection; part
部bùpart; section

局 and 部 both refer to a section or part, so the word means a part rather than the whole.

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
句
句jù局jú
Same sound today

The shape of 局 pairs 尸, a meaning part, with 句, a sound part.

Open 局 →

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

部 pairs 咅, which gives the sound, with 邑. It originally named a place in today's Gansu.

Open 部 →

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