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执行 (zhí xíng) — (verb) to carry out, to execute, to implement; (adjective) executive (attributive)

Definition

执行 means to carry out a plan, order, or task that has already been decided. It's more about doing concrete steps than 实行 (designing the system/policy itself) or 履行 (fulfilling an obligation). As an adjective it means 'executive' (e.g., 执行董事).

verb
to carry outto executeto implement
adjective
executive (attributive)

Examples

  • 执行。
    Qǐng zhí xíng zhè ge jì huà.
    Please carry out this plan.
  • 执行。
    Tā fù zé zhí xíng gōng sī de zhèng cè.
    He is responsible for implementing the company's policies.
  • 执行。
    Tā shì gōng sī de zhí xíng dǒng shì.
    He is an executive director of the company.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

执zhícarry out
行xíngdo

The parts 执 and 行 both mean carry out, so together they mean to put a plan into effect.

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 →

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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