护送 (hù sòng) — to escort (a person or valuable items); to convoy (vehicles, ships, etc.)

Definition

A formal verb meaning 'to escort' or 'to convoy' — emphasizes protecting the safe passage of a person, valuable goods, or vehicles (often police, military, or specialists acting as protectors). Pairs with destinations via 到.

verb
to escort (a person or valuable items)to convoy (vehicles, ships, etc.)

Examples

  • 护送。
    Jǐng chá hù sòng tā ān quán huí jiā.
    The police escorted him safely home.
  • 护送。
    Zhè pī wén wù yóu zhuān rén hù sòng dào bó wù guǎn.
    This batch of cultural relics was escorted by specialists to the museum.
  • 护送。
    Jūn duì hù sòng yùn shū chē duì chuān guò wēi xiǎn qū yù.
    The military convoy escorted the transport trucks through the dangerous area.

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.

护hùprotect
送sòngescort

护 and 送 both contribute guarding and conveying, giving an escort.

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
扌Written in full as手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
户
户hù护hù
Same sound today

护 combines 扌 (the hand form 手) with 户, which gives the sound hù.

Open 护 →

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
辶Written in full as辵chuòto walk
Sound part声符shēngfú
灷
灷zhuàn送sòng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

送 combines 辶, the walking radical, with 灷, which supplies the sound; the walking part fits meanings like see off or deliver.

Open 送 →

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