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救生艇 (jiù shēng tǐng) — lifeboat

Definition

noun
lifeboat
Measure word · 艘

Examples

  • 救生艇。
    Zhè sōu chuán shàng pèi bèi le sì sōu jiù shēng tǐng.
    This ship is equipped with four lifeboats.
  • 救生艇。
    Chuán yuán men zhèng zài jìn xíng jiù shēng tǐng yǎn liàn.
    The crew is conducting a lifeboat drill.
  • ，救生艇。
    Yù dào wēi xiǎn shí, qǐng lì jí shǐ yòng jiù shēng tǐng.
    In case of danger, please use the lifeboat immediately.

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.

救生save life
救jiùsave生shēnglife
动宾Verb + object
艇tǐngboat

救 means save, 生 means life, and 艇 means boat: a boat for saving lives.

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
攴攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
求
求qiú救jiù
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 救, 求 gives the sound, and 攴 is the action part.

Open 救 →

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

生 shows 屮 (a bud) above 一 (the ground), drawing a sprout coming up from the earth.

Open 生 →

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
舟舟zhōuboat
Sound part声符shēngfú
廷
廷tíng艇tǐng
Same sound today

艇 pairs 舟, meaning boat, with 廷, which gives the sound.

Open 艇 →
Appears in
Boats & Water TravelSafety & Danger

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