打字 (dǎ zì) — to type (using a keyboard or typewriter) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A separable verb meaning 'to type' on a keyboard or typewriter. The verb-object pair often splits with a 了/过/一下/的, as in 打了很久的字 ('typed for a long time').

verb

to type (using a keyboard or typewriter)

Examples

打字。
Wǒ měi tiān dōu yào zài diàn nǎo shàng dǎ zì.
I have to type on the computer every day.
。
Tā dǎ le hěn jiǔ de zì cái xiě wán bào gào.
He typed for a long time before finishing the report.
。
Nǐ bāng wǒ bǎ zhè xiē wén zì dǎ yí xià zì ba.
Help me type these texts, please.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

打dǎstrike

字zìcharacters

打 (strike) and 字 (characters) combine to mean strike characters, i.e. type.

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.

扌丁打

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

丁

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

打 uses 扌, a hand, to show an action done with the hand, and 丁 to give the sound.

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

宀子字

Meaning part形符xíngfú

宀宀miánroof

Sound part声符shēngfú

子

子zǐ字zì

Same sound today

字 pairs 宀 (roof) with 子 (child); 子 gives the sound, while 宀 relates to the meaning.

Appears in

Reading & Writing

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