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执勤 (zhí qín) — to be on duty (for police, security, military, etc.)

Definition

执勤 means 'to be on duty' — specifically for police, security, military, or similar personnel performing their post. Often used in formal or official contexts, e.g. police on patrol at an intersection.

verb
to be on duty (for police, security, military, etc.)

Examples

  • 执勤。
    Tā měi tiān bā diǎn kāi shǐ zhí qín.
    He starts duty at 8 every day.
  • 执勤。
    Jǐng chá zài lù kǒu zhí qín.
    The police are on duty at the intersection.
  • ，。
    Tā zhí le yì zhěng tiān de qín, fēi cháng lèi.
    He performed a whole day's duty, very tired.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

执zhícarry out
勤qínduty

执勤 joins 执 (to carry out) and 勤 (duty), meaning to carry out duty.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 執; 执 is its simplified writing.

  • 㚔㚔㚔criminal / handcuffs
  • 丮丮jǐhand

The traditional form 執 shows 㚔, a handcuffed criminal, with 丮, a hand, giving the idea of arrest. The simplified 执 is a later shorthand, so its current parts are not the original pieces.

Open 执 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 勤 →
Appears in
Professions & Jobs

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