悔棋 (huǐ qí) — to retract a move (in chess or board games)

Definition

In chess or other board games, to take back a move already played. Usually considered unsportsmanlike and against the rules (cf. 落子无悔: 'a piece placed cannot be retracted').

verb
to retract a move (in chess or board games)

Examples

  • 悔棋。
    Xià qí shí bù néng suí biàn huǐ qí.
    You can't arbitrarily retract moves when playing chess.
  • ，。
    Tā huǐ le yí bù qí, jié guǒ hái shì shū le.
    He took back one move, but still lost in the end.
  • ，悔棋。
    Àn guī zé, luò zǐ hòu jiù bù xǔ huǐ qí le.
    According to the rules, you're not allowed to retract a move after placing the piece.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

悔huǐretract
棋qíchess

悔 means 'retract' and 棋 means 'chess', so together they mean to retract a chess move.

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
忄Written in full as心xīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
每
每měi悔huǐ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

悔 pairs 忄, the heart part, with 每, which gives a sound hint.

Open 悔 →

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
木木mùwooden
Sound part声符shēngfú
其
其qí棋qí
Same sound today

棋 has 木 on the left, showing it was made of wood, and 其 on the right gives the sound.

Open 棋 →

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