新篇章 (xīn piān zhāng) — new chapter (figurative); new phase; new beginning

Definition

A figurative phrase meaning 'new chapter' — used for major turning points (in history, cooperation, life) rather than for a literal book. Common with verbs like 翻开, 开启, 谱写.

noun
new chapter (figurative)new phasenew beginning

Examples

  • 新篇章。
    Zhè cì hé zuò fān kāi le liǎng guó de xīn piān zhāng.
    This cooperation has opened a new chapter between the two countries.
  • ，新篇章。
    Xīn de yì nián, dà jiā dōu xī wàng kāi qǐ rén shēng xīn piān zhāng.
    In the new year, everyone hopes to start a new chapter in life.
  • 新篇章。
    Kē jì fā zhǎn jiāng pǔ xiě rén lèi wén míng de xīn piān zhāng.
    Technological development will write a new chapter for human civilization.

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.

新xīnnew
篇章chapter
篇piānchapter章zhāngchapter
联合Side by side

“新” means new, while “篇” and “章” refer to sections of writing, giving a new chapter.

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.

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
斤斤jīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
辛
辛xīn新xīn
Same sound today

The shape originally paired 斤, for chopping wood, with 辛 for sound. It was borrowed for its sound to write 新, so the chopping-wood parts are unrelated to 'new'.

Open 新 →

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
竹竹zhú
Sound part声符shēngfú
扁
扁biǎn篇piān
Same sound today

篇 combines 竹 with 扁: 竹 is the part tied to the meaning, and 扁 is the part used for the sound.

Open 篇 →

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

章 shows a chisel piercing a piece of jade in the middle. It originally meant treating jade.

Open 章 →

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