应承 (yìng chéng) — to agree (to do something); to promise; to consent

Definition

A formal verb meaning 'to agree / promise to do something,' used when one commits to a request, favor, or task. Often pairs with 了, as in 应承了……, and carries a stronger sense of obligation than casual 'okay.'

verb
to agree (to do something)to promiseto consent

Examples

  • 应承。
    Tā yìng chéng le bāng máng zhào gù hái zi.
    He agreed to help take care of the child.
  • 应承。
    Lǎo bǎn dāng zhòng yìng chéng le jiā xīn de yāo qiú.
    The boss publicly promised the salary raise request.
  • 应承，。
    Jì rán nǐ yìng chéng le zhè jiàn shì, jiù yào zuò dào.
    Since you consented to this matter, you must see it through.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

应yìngaccept
承chéngundertake

应 and 承 both carry accepting or undertaking, so together they mean agree.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 應; 应 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
䧹
䧹䧹應yìng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 應 pairs 心 (heart) with 䧹 as a sound part; the simplified 应 is a later shorthand and its parts are not the original components.

Open 应 →

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

  • 卩卩jiékneeling person
  • 廾廾gǒngboth hands

承 combines 卩, a kneeling person, and 廾, both hands, to show holding or carrying.

Open 承 →

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