Definition
岔开 is a resultative verb (verb + complement 开) that covers several related senses depending on context: a road or path physically branching off, turning a conversation to a different topic, or arranging times to avoid overlap. It can be used with 得/不 to form potential complements, as in 岔得开 ('can be diverged') and 岔不开 ('cannot be diverged').
r.v.
to branch offto diverge (of a path)to diverge to another topicto change the subjectto stagger (times)to space out
Examples
- 岔开，。Zhè tiáo lù zài qiánmiàn chà kāi le, yì tiáo wǎng dōng yì tiáo wǎng xī.This road branches off ahead, one going east and one going west.
- ，岔开。Tā bù xiǎng huídá nà ge wèntí, jiù chà kāi le huàtí.He didn't want to answer that question, so he changed the subject.
- ，岔开。Wèile jiǎnshǎo yōngjǐ, gōngsī bǎ bùtóng bùmén de shàngbān shíjiān chà kāi le.To reduce crowding, the company staggered the work hours of different departments.
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