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报名 (bào míng) — to sign up, to register (for a class, exam, event, etc.)

Definition

报名 means 'to sign up / register' for a class, exam, or event. More general than 入学 (entering a school) or 报考 (registering for a specific exam); more colloquial than 注册 or 登记.

verb
to sign upto register (for a class, exam, event, etc.)

Examples

  • ，。
    Wǒ bào le yí gè míng, xià zhōu yī shàng kè.
    I signed up; class starts next Monday.
  • 报名？
    Nǐ bào míng le ma?
    Have you registered?
  • 报名，。
    bào míng Shí jiān dào zhōu wǔ, bié cuò guò.
    The registration period ends on Friday — don't miss it.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

报bàoreport
名míngname

报 “report” plus 名 “name”: giving one's name to register.

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 報; 报 is its simplified writing.

  • 㚔㚔㚔handcuffs
  • 𠬝𠬝𠬝to subdue

The traditional form 報 puts 㚔 (handcuffs) beside 𠬝 (to subdue), showing someone restrained and subdued, as in convicting or punishing a guilty person. The simplified 报 is a later shorthand.

Open 报 →

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

名 puts 夕 (crescent moon) above 口 (mouth), showing a name spoken in the dark.

Open 名 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4HSK 2.0 Level 4School & Education

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