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开释 (kāi shì) — to release (a prisoner), to set free

Definition

A formal/legal term meaning to release or set free a prisoner, used in court and news contexts rather than everyday speech.

verb
to release (a prisoner)to set free

Examples

  • 开释。
    Fǎ yuàn jué dìng kāi shì tā.
    The court decided to release him.
  • 开释。
    Nà ge zuì fàn bèi kāi shì le.
    That criminal was released.
  • ，开释。
    Jīng guò shěn pàn, fǎ guān xuān bù kāi shì bèi gào.
    After the trial, the judge announced the release of the defendant.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

开kāirelease
释shìrelease

开 and 释 both mean release, so together they describe setting a prisoner free.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 開; 开 is its simplified writing.

  • 門門méndoor
  • 一一yīlatch and/or wooden pole that shuts a door
  • 廾廾gǒnga pair of hands

The traditional form 開 shows 廾, a pair of hands, and 一, a latch or pole, inside 門, a door: hands opening a latched door. The simplified 开 is a shorthand form, so its parts are not the original pieces.

Open 开 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 釋; 释 is its simplified writing.

  • 釆釆biànto distinguish
  • 睪睪yìto release; to see

The traditional form 釋 puts 釆 (to distinguish) beside 睪, a part that gives the sound and means “to release; to see”; the simplified 释 is a later shortened shape.

Open 释 →
Appears in
Law & Justice

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