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摆布 (bǎi bù) — to arrange, to decorate; to order about, to manipulate

Definition

摆布 (bǎibù) is a verb meaning to manipulate or control someone like a puppet, especially in the pattern 任人摆布 ('to be at someone's mercy'). The 'arrange/decorate' sense is secondary and rare.

verb
to arrangeto decorateto order aboutto manipulate

Examples

  • 摆布。
    Tā bǎ fáng jiān lǐ de xiǎo dōng xi bǎi bù dé hěn zhěng qí.
    He arranged the small items in the room very neatly.
  • 摆布。
    Bié yǐ wéi nǐ kě yǐ suí biàn bǎi bù wǒ.
    Don't think you can order me around as you please.
  • 摆布，。
    Tā bù xǐ huan bèi bié rén bǎi bù, suǒ yǐ zì jǐ zuò le jué dìng.
    She doesn't like being manipulated by others, so she made her own decision.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

摆bǎiarrange
布bùspread

摆 and 布 both mean placing or spreading, so together they describe arranging or manipulating 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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 擺; 摆 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
罷
罷bà擺bǎi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 擺 has 手 (hand) with 罷 giving the sound bà; the simplified 摆 is a later shorthand, not the original shape.

Open 摆 →

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
巾巾jīnkerchief
Sound part声符shēngfú
父
父fù布bù
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

布 pairs 巾, a kerchief, with 父 as a sound part.

Open 布 →
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