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抽空 (chōu kòng) — to find time (to do something)

Definition

Literally 'draw out a gap': to carve out a moment from a busy schedule. Used when you squeeze in time for someone or something, not to describe simply having free time.

verb
to find time (to do something)

Examples

  • 抽空。
    Wǒ chōu kòng qù kàn nǐ.
    I'll find time to visit you.
  • ，。
    Wǒ zuì jìn tài máng le, chōu bù chū kōng lái.
    I've been too busy lately and can't find time.
  • ，。
    Nǐ chōu gè kōng lái yí xià, wǒ yǒu shì gēn nǐ shuō.
    Find a moment to come over; I have something to tell you.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

抽chōupull out
空kōngfree time

抽 means to pull out, and 空 refers to free time.

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shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
由
由yóu抽chōu
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left part 扌 is the hand form, written in full as 手, and the right part 由 provides the sound.

Open 抽 →

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
穴穴xuécave, hole
Sound part声符shēngfú
工
工gōng空kōng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

空 is built from 穴, a cave or hole, and 工, which gives the sound.

Open 空 →
Appears in
HSK 2.0 Level 6Time (Abstract)

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