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抱有 (bào yǒu) — to have; to possess; to hold (a view, attitude, etc.)

Definition

抱有 is an abstract/transitive verb meaning to hold (an attitude, hope, doubt, belief) — its object is always an abstract stance, not a concrete thing. Often swapped with 怀有 in writing; 抱有 is slightly more formal and more common in modern prose.

verb
to haveto possessto hold (a view, attitude, etc.)

Examples

  • 抱有。
    Tā duì wèi lái bào yǒu lè guān de tài dù.
    He holds an optimistic attitude toward the future.
  • 抱有。
    Xǔ duō rén duì zhè ge jì huà bào yǒu huái yí.
    Many people harbor doubts about this plan.
  • 抱有。
    Tā yì zhí bào yǒu jiān dìng de xìn niàn.
    She has always held firm convictions.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

抱bàohold
有yǒuhave

抱 suggests holding something in the arms, while 有 states possession; together they mean to hold or possess a view or feeling.

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
包
包bāo抱
Same sound today

抱 pairs 扌 (hand) with 包; the hand part shows holding, while 包 supplies the sound and the sense of wrapping.

Open 抱 →

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
肉肉ròumeat
Sound part声符shēngfú
又
又yòu有yǒu
Same sound today

The form 有 combines 又, used for its sound, with a shape from 肉, 'meat'; the hand-holding-meat story is a folk explanation, not shown in the oldest shape.

Open 有 →
Appears in
Attitudes & Opinions

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