慢行 (màn xíng) — to go slowly, to drive slowly (formal, used in traffic signs and written warnings)

Definition

A formal, written phrase meaning 'go slowly / drive slowly' — almost always seen on traffic signs and road warnings, not in everyday speech.

verb
to go slowlyto drive slowly (formal, used in traffic signs and written warnings)

Examples

  • ，慢行。
    Qián fāng xué xiào, chē liàng qǐng màn xíng.
    School ahead, vehicles please go slow.
  • 慢行。
    Zhè ge lù kǒu yǒu biāo zhì tí xǐng sī jī màn xíng.
    This intersection has a sign reminding drivers to go slow.
  • ，慢行。
    Shī gōng lù duàn, qǐng màn xíng tōng guò.
    Construction zone, please pass slowly.

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.

慢mànslow
行xínggo

慢 describes the manner as slow, and 行 means to go; together they mean to proceed slowly.

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xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
曼
曼màn慢màn
Same sound today

慢 pairs 忄 (heart) with 曼 (màn). The heart part points to a manner or sluggish behavior, while 曼’s meaning “long, extended” adds the sense of taking a long time.

Open 慢 →

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

  • 彳彳chì
  • 亍亍chù

The shape of 行 originally showed a street intersection, even on both sides. Later it became uneven, with 彳 on the left and 亍 on the right.

Open 行 →

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