御寒 (yù hán) — to keep out the cold, to protect against cold weather

Definition

Formal/literary verb meaning 'to keep out the cold' — used for clothing, shelter, or food that protects against winter weather. Common in written or product contexts (e.g. 御寒衣物) rather than everyday speech.

verb
to keep out the coldto protect against cold weather

Examples

  • 御寒。
    Dōng tiān chuān yǔ róng fú kě yǐ yù hán.
    Wearing a down jacket in winter can keep out the cold.
  • ，。
    Zhè jiàn dà yī hěn hòu, néng yù dé zhù hán.
    This coat is very thick; it can keep out the cold.
  • 御寒。
    Hē jiāng tāng yě néng yù hán.
    Drinking ginger soup can also keep out the cold.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

御yùward off
寒háncold

“御” as ward off and “寒” as cold combine to mean keep out the cold.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
卩卩jiékneeling person
Sound part声符shēngfú
午
午wǔ御yù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The form combines 午 and 卩, a kneeling person; walking signs add action, and the whole form means govern.

Open 御 →

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

  • 宀宀miánhouse
  • 人人rénperson
  • 茻茻mǎnggrass

寒 shows 宀 (house), 人 (person), and 茻 (grass): a person sleeping in grass inside a house to keep out the cold.

Open 寒 →

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