攀援 (pān yuán) — to climb up (using a rope, ladder, etc.); (of plants) to climb; climbing

Definition

攀援 means 'to clamber up' — often with aid like a rope, or used for climbing plants. More effortful and strenuous than 爬.

verb
to climb up (using a rope, ladder, etc.)(of plants) to climbclimbing

Examples

  • 攀援。
    Tā yòng shéng zi pān yuán shàng le xuán yá.
    He climbed up the cliff using a rope.
  • 攀援。
    Zhè zhǒng pān yuán zhí wù néng gòu yán zhe qiáng bì shēng zhǎng.
    This kind of climbing plant can grow along walls.
  • 攀援。
    Tā men yán zhe dǒu qiào de shān lù pān yuán ér shàng.
    They climbed upward along the steep mountain path.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

攀pānclimb
援yuánpull up

攀 (climb) and 援 (pull up) are parallel actions of climbing.

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
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
樊
樊fán攀
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

攀 pairs 手 (hand) with 樊, which gives its sound.

Open 攀 →

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
爰
爰yuán援yuán
Same sound today

In 援, the left 扌 (written fully as 手) is a hand, and the right 爰 tells you how it sounds.

Open 援 →

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