打群架 (dǎ qún jià) — to fight in a group; to engage in a gang fight | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

打群架 (dǎ qúnjià) is a 离合词 (separable verb): 打 and 群架 can split for aspect/measure words, as in 打了一次群架 or 打群架的人. It specifically means a group fight / gang brawl — not a one-on-one 打斗.

verb

to fight in a groupto engage in a gang fight

Examples

。
Tā men zuó tiān dǎ le yí cì qún jià.
They had a gang fight yesterday.
打群架。
Zhè xiē nián qīng rén jīng cháng dǎ qún jià.
These young people often engage in gang fights.
打群架。
Tā yīn wèi dǎ qún jià bèi jǐng chá zhuā zǒu le.
He was arrested by the police for engaging in a gang fight.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

群架group fight

群qúngroup架jiàquarrel

偏正Modifier + head

打 (fight) plus 群 (group) and 架 (quarrel) gives a group fight.

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.

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.

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

加木架

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mùtree, wood

Sound part声符shēngfú

加

加jiā架jià

Same sound today

架 shows 木, meaning wood, with 加 giving the sound; it refers to a wooden prop.

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