惯用 (guàn yòng) — to habitually use; to be in common use

Definition

惯用 (guàn yòng) means 'to habitually use' — emphasizes that a practice is customary or common, often before de 的 to modify a noun (惯用的说法 = 'a customary expression'). It usually describes an established pattern rather than one person's habit.

verb
to habitually useto be in common use

Examples

  • 惯用。
    Tā guàn yòng zuǒ shǒu xiě zì.
    He habitually uses his left hand to write.
  • 惯用。
    Zhè shì shāng jiā guàn yòng de cù xiāo shǒu duàn.
    This is a promotional method commonly used by businesses.
  • 惯用。
    Zhè zhǒng jì shù yǐ bèi guàn yòng yú gè gè lǐng yù.
    This technology has been commonly used in various fields.

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.

惯guànhabit
用yònguse

Habit and use combine to mean use something as a habit or in a customary way.

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 慣; 惯 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
忄Written in full as心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
貫
貫guàn慣guàn
Same sound today

The traditional form 慣 shows 忄 (heart) beside 貫, which gives the sound; the simplified 惯 is a shorthand. Habit is what one does by heart.

Open 惯 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

用 was formed by adding a handle to an earlier form.

Open 用 →

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