支派 (zhī pā) — to dispatch, to send (someone on a task or mission)

Definition

支派 means to send or assign someone to do a task — usually from a position of authority (boss, manager). It focuses on dispatching a person, unlike verbs that emphasize giving orders.

verb
to dispatchto send (someone on a task or mission)

Examples

  • 支派。
    Lǎo bǎn zhī pā tā qù wài dì fēn gōng sī chǔ lǐ wèn tí.
    The boss dispatched him to the branch office in another city to handle the issue.
  • 支派。
    Jīng lǐ zhī pā xiǎo lǐ fù zé zhè ge xīn xiàng mù.
    The manager assigned Xiao Li to be in charge of this new project.
  • 支派。
    Shàng jí zhī pā tā qù hé kè hù tán pàn.
    The superior sent him to negotiate with the client.

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.

支zhīsend
派pàidispatch

支 (send) and 派 (dispatch) are parallel ways of sending someone off.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

支 pairs 又 (hand) with 十, a shortened form of 竹 (bamboo), to picture a bamboo branch.

Open 支 →

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
水水shuǐwater; river
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠂢
𠂢𠂢派pài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

派 is built from 水 (water/river) and 𠂢. 𠂢 gives the sound, and 水 was added later to tell the character apart from the older form.

Open 派 →

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