攻陷 (gōng xiàn) — to storm and capture (a city, fortress, etc.); to break through and take over (an opponent's position, market, etc.)

Definition

Military/competitive verb: 'to storm and capture' a fortified position (city, defense line, market). Distinct from 占领 ('to occupy/control'), which emphasizes holding territory rather than the breakthrough moment.

verb
to storm and capture (a city, fortress, etc.)to break through and take over (an opponent's position, market, etc.)

Examples

  • ,攻陷。
    Jīng guò sān tiān jī zhàn, jūn duì zhōng yú gōng xiàn le zhè zuò chéng.
    After three days of fierce fighting, the army finally stormed and captured this city.
  • ,攻陷。
    Zài jué sài zhōng, wǒ fāng qiú duì gōng xiàn le duì shǒu de fáng xiàn.
    In the final match, our team broke through and captured the opponent's defense line.
  • 攻陷。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī yòng xīn jì shù gōng xiàn le zhěng gè shì chǎng.
    This company conquered the entire market with new technology.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

攻gōngattack

攻 is to attack and 陷 is to fall, so the word means to attack and take a place.

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
攵Written in full as攴pūhand holding a tool or weapon
Sound part声符shēngfú
工
工gōng攻gōng
Same sound today

攻 puts 工, which gives the pronunciation, beside 攵, a hand holding a tool or weapon.

Open 攻 →

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
阜阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
臽
臽xiàn陷xiàn
Same sound today

In 陷, the older form 臽 pictured falling into a trap; 阜 was added later to differentiate it.

Open 陷 →

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