探路 (tàn lù) — to explore the way, to scout the path | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

探路 means to scout or explore a route ahead of others — literally 'probe the path'. Used when a person or team goes first to find or check the way for those who follow.

verb

to explore the wayto scout the path

Examples

探路，。
Wǒ men dé xiān tàn lù, zài jué dìng zǒu nǎ tiáo lù.
We need to scout the way first, then decide which path to take.
，。
Tā yǐ jīng tàn guò yí cì lù le, zhī dào zěn me zǒu.
He has already scouted the way once and knows how to go.
探路，。
Tàn xiǎn duì zài qián miàn tàn lù, wǒ men gēn zài hòu miàn.
The expedition team is scouting ahead, and we follow behind.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

探tànexplore

探 means explore, 路 means road; together mean to scout a path.

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

𥥍

𥥍𥥍探tàn

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

In 探, the 扌 part is a hand, and 𥥍 gives the sound.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

各

各gè路lù

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

路 combines 足, a foot, with 各, which supplies the sound.

Appears in

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