序 (xù) — (bound form) order; sequence; (bound form) preface; introductory text
Definition
序 (xù) is a bound morpheme meaning 'order/sequence' (as in 顺序) or 'preface/introductory text' (as in 序言). It almost never stands alone — use 顺序 for the everyday noun 'sequence', and 序言 for 'preface'.
bound form
ordersequenceprefaceintroductory text
Examples
- 序。Tā qǐng le yí wèi zhù míng zuò jiā wèi tā de shū xiě yì piān xù.He invited a famous writer to write a preface for his book.
- 。Qǐng dà jiā àn zhào nián líng shùn xù zhàn hǎo.Please stand in order of age.
- 。Zhè xiē cí shì àn pīn yīn shùn xù pái liè de.These words are arranged in pinyin order.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
序 combines 广 and 予; 予 gives the sound, while 广 marks the meaning.
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