批准 (pī zhǔn) — to approve, to ratify | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

批准 is formal/official approval, typically by a manager, government, or institution. It is stronger and more authoritative than 同意 (personal agreement), and shares 'review-and-approve' meaning with 审批 and 审定.

verb

to approveto ratify

Examples

批准。
Jīng lǐ pī zhǔn le wǒ men de xīn jì huà.
The manager approved our new plan.
批准。
Zhèng fǔ hái méi yǒu pī zhǔn zhè ge xiàng mù.
The government hasn't approved this project yet.
批准。
Qǐng děng wǒ men pī zhǔn nín de shēn qǐng.
Please wait for us to approve your application.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéSide by side

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

批pīapprove

批 and 准 both carry the sense of allowing or ratifying, so together they mean to approve.

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

手手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

比

比bǐ批pī

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

批 puts 手 (hand) beside 比, which gives the sound.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 準; 准 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

水水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

隼

隼sǔn準zhǔn

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

The traditional form 準, not 准, pairs 水 (water) with 隼 as a sound part; the evidence describes it as 'water level'.

Appears in

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