TongTong
Sign in

推荐信 (tuī jiàn xìn) — letter of recommendation

Definition

noun
letter of recommendation
Measure word · 封

Examples

  • 推荐信。
    Qǐng nǐ de jiào shòu wèi nǐ xiě yì fēng tuī jiàn xìn.
    Ask your professor to write a letter of recommendation for you.
  • 推荐信。
    Tā zài shēn qǐng gōng zuò shí xū yào sān fēng tuī jiàn xìn.
    He needs three recommendation letters when applying for a job.
  • 推荐信。
    Zhè fēng tuī jiàn xìn jiè shào le tā de zhuān yè néng lì hé rén pǐn.
    This recommendation letter introduces his professional ability and character.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

推荐recommend
推tuīpush荐jiànrecommend
联合Coordinate
信xìnletter

推荐 puts forward and recommends, and 信 is a letter, so it is a letter recommending someone.

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
隹
隹zhuī推tuī
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left side 扌 is a hand, and the right side 隹 gives the sound; the character shows pushing with the hand.

Open 推 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 薦; 荐 is its simplified writing.

  • 艸艸cǎograss
  • 廌廌zhìwild beast

The traditional form 薦 combines 艸 (grass) and 廌 (wild beast) to show a pasture. It was later borrowed for its sound to mean 'recommend'.

Open 荐 →

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
言言yánwords
Sound part声符shēngfú
人
人rén信xìn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

信 pairs 人 as the sound part with 言 (words) as the meaning part.

Open 信 →
Appears in
Mail & MessagingWorkplace & Office

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.