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撒气 (sā qì) — to leak air; to go flat (of tires, balloons, etc.); to vent one's anger; to take out frustration (on someone)

Definition

撒气 (sāqì) is a separable verb with two distinct senses: a literal one (a tire/balloon leaks air, goes flat) and a figurative one (vent anger, often on someone else — 别拿我撒气 'don't take it out on me').

verb
to leak airto go flat (of tires, balloons, etc.)to vent one's angerto take out frustration (on someone)

Examples

  • 撒气，。
    Chē tāi sā qì le, xū yào dǎ qì.
    The tire went flat and needs pumping.
  • ，。
    Tā xīn qíng bù hǎo, jiù chōng yuán gōng sā le yì tōng qì.
    He was in a bad mood and vented his anger on the employees.
  • 撒气，。
    Bié ná wǒ sā qì, yòu bú shì wǒ de cuò.
    Don't take your anger out on me — it's not my fault.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

撒sālet out
气qìair/anger

撒 (let out) + 气 (air or anger) forms the idea of releasing air or venting frustration.

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

撒 combines 扌 (hand) with 散, which gives the sound; the hand part shows scattering with the hand.

Open 撒 →

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 氣; 气 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
气
气qì氣qì
Same sound today

The traditional form 氣 pairs 米 (rice) with 气, which supplies the sound; the simplified 气 is a later abbreviation.

Open 气 →
Appears in
Emotions & Feelings

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