挣开 (zhèng kāi) — to throw off (restraints), to break free from (a hold or tie)

Definition

A result verb meaning to break free or throw off by force, with a 开来 that signals a successful release. Pairs naturally with 束缚/绳索/手 (bonds, ropes, someone's hand).

verb
to throw off (restraints)to break free from (a hold or tie)

Examples

  • 挣开，。
    Xiǎo nán hái shǐ jìn yí zhèng kāi, zhèng tuō le mā ma de shǒu.
    The little boy gave a hard tug and broke free from his mother's hand.
  • 挣开。
    Tā yòng jìn quán lì zhèng kāi le shéng suǒ.
    He used all his strength to throw off the rope.
  • 挣开。
    Tā zhèng kāi le nà zhī jǐn jǐn zhuā zhù tā de shǒu.
    She broke free from the hand that was tightly gripping her.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

挣zhèngwrench
开kāifree

挣 means to wrench or struggle, and 开 shows the result of coming free.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 掙; 挣 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
爭
爭zhēng掙zhèng
Same sound today

The traditional form 掙 combines 手 (hand) with 爭, which gives the sound; the simplified 挣 is a shorthand.

Open 挣 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 開; 开 is its simplified writing.

  • 門門méndoor
  • 一一yīlatch and/or wooden pole that shuts a door
  • 廾廾gǒnga pair of hands

The traditional form 開 shows 廾, a pair of hands, and 一, a latch or pole, inside 門, a door: hands opening a latched door. The simplified 开 is a shorthand form, so its parts are not the original pieces.

Open 开 →

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