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挪用 (nuó yòng) — to misappropriate, to embezzle, to divert (funds)

Definition

A formal-written verb for illegally diverting or misusing funds earmarked for one purpose to another. Implies official or institutional misuse of money rather than personal theft.

verb
to misappropriateto embezzleto divert (funds)

Examples

  • 挪用。
    Tā yīn wèi nuó yòng gōng sī zī jīn bèi kāi chú le.
    He was fired for misappropriating company funds.
  • 挪用。
    Zhè qǐ nuó yòng gōng kuǎn àn shè jí jīn é jù dà.
    This case of embezzling public funds involves a huge amount of money.
  • 挪用。
    Shěn jì fā xiàn gāi bù mén cún zài nuó yòng zhuān xiàng zī jīn de wèn tí.
    The audit found that the department had a problem of diverting special funds.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

挪nuómove
用yònguse

The ideas of 挪 'move' and 用 'use' combine: funds are moved and then used, giving the sense of diverting them.

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
那
那nà挪nuó
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

挪 pairs 扌 (hand) with 那, which gives its sound.

Open 挪 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

用 was formed by adding a handle to an earlier form.

Open 用 →
Appears in
Crime & Police

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