撑杆跳 (chēng gān tiào) — pole vault (sport)

Definition

noun
pole vault (sport)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 撑杆跳。
    Tā shì yì míng yōu xiù de chēng gān tiào yùn dòng yuán.
    He is an excellent pole vault athlete.
  • 撑杆跳。
    Tā zhèng zài liàn xí chēng gān tiào.
    She is practicing pole vault.
  • 撑杆跳。
    chēng gān tiào Shì yí xiàng fēi cháng cì jī de yùn dòng.
    Pole vault is a very exciting sport.

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.

撑杆pole
撑chēnghold up杆gānpole
动宾Verb + object
跳tiàojump

撑杆 describes holding a pole, and 跳 is jump; together they picture pole vaulting.

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 撐; 撑 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
牚
牚chēng撐chēng
Same sound today

The traditional form 撐 pairs 手 (hand) with 牚, which gives the sound; the simplified 撑 is a shorthand.

Open 撑 →

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
木木mùtree
Sound part声符shēngfú
干
干gān杆gǎn
Same sound today

杆 pairs 木 (tree) with 干, which gives the sound. The 木 part shows the thing is made of wood.

Open 杆 →

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
足足zúfoot
Sound part声符shēngfú
兆
兆zhào跳tiào
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

跳 pairs 足 (foot) with 兆, which supplies the sound; the foot part shows the action is done with the feet.

Open 跳 →

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