引言 (yǐn yán) — foreword; introduction (to a book, speech, or article)

Definition

noun
forewordintroduction (to a book, speech, or article)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 引言。
    Zhè běn shū de yǐn yán xiě dé hěn jīng cǎi.
    The foreword of this book is very well written.
  • 引言。
    Jiào shòu de yǐn yán wèi jiǎng zuò zuò le hěn hǎo de pū diàn.
    The professor's introduction laid a good groundwork for the lecture.
  • 引言。
    Wǒ dú le lùn wén de yǐn yán bù fen.
    I read the introduction section of the thesis.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

引yǐnlead
言yánwords

“引” means lead and “言” means words; the word is words that lead into a text.

Characters in this word

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

  • 弓弓gōngbow
  • 丿丿piěindicatory stroke

引 is made from 弓, a bow, and 丿, a short slant stroke added at the place where the string is pulled, marking the action of drawing or pulling.

Open 引 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

The early form of 言 shows an opening and a mark indicating a location; the location is not described as the source of speech.

Open 言 →

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