摆开 (bǎi kāi) — to deploy (troops, forces, equipment); to spread out; to lay out (objects, maps, etc.); to array (a formation, a scene)

Definition

摆开 (bǎi kāi) is a separable verb meaning to lay or deploy things in an open arrangement — troops, maps, or a formation. Splits as 摆…开 (把地图摆开), unlike single-word 安排.

verb
to deploy (troops, forces, equipment)to spread outto lay out (objects, maps, etc.)to array (a formation, a scene)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 摆开。
    Jūn duì zài biān jìng bǎi kāi le fáng xiàn.
    The army deployed a defense line at the border.
  • 摆开。
    Tā bǎ dì tú bǎi kāi zài zhuō zi shàng.
    He spread the map out on the table.
  • 摆开，。
    Shuāng fāng dōu bǎi kāi le zhèn shì, zhǔn bèi kāi zhàn.
    Both sides arrayed their formations and prepared to fight.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

摆bǎiarrange
开kāispread open

摆 is arranging, and 开 gives the spread-out result.

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 →

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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