成群 (chéng qún) — in groups, in large numbers (of people or anima… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Adverb meaning 'in groups / in large numbers', usually of people or animals moving together. Pairs with 地 before a verb (成群地飞) or directly before a noun phrase (成群地活动).

adverb

in groupsin large numbers (of people or animals)

Examples

成群。
Yóu kè chéng qún dì yǒng xiàng guǎng chǎng.
Tourists surged toward the square in large groups.
，成群。
Chūn tiān lái le, niǎo r chéng qún dì fēi huí lái le.
Spring has come, and birds have flown back in flocks.
成群。
Zhè xiē yú zǒng shì chéng qún huó dòng.
These fish always move in groups.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

成 (form) + 群 (group) gives the idea of forming groups, hence in groups.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

丁

丁dīng成chéng

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

成 puts 戊, a weapon, beside 丁, which gives the sound. The weapon part relates to protection, as in the old sense of city walls.

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

君羊群

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

君

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

群 pairs 羊, a sheep, to point to a herd or group, with 君 giving the sound.

Appears in

Quantity & Amount

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.