施法 (shī fǎ) — (verb-object) to cast a spell, to conjure; (verb-object) to enforce the law (archaic or legal context)

Definition

A verb-object phrase: 施 + 法, meaning to apply or carry out 法. In modern fantasy/gaming context it means 'to cast a spell'; in classical or legal writing it means 'to enforce the law'.

verb
(verb-object) to cast a spellto conjure(verb-object) to enforce the law (archaic or legal context)

Examples

  • 施法。
    Fǎ shī zhèng zài shī fǎ.
    The mage is casting a spell.
  • 。
    Tā shī le yí gè qiáng dà de fǎ.
    He cast a powerful spell.
  • 施法。
    Gǔ dài guān yuán yǒu shī fǎ zhí fǎ de zhí zé.
    Ancient officials had the duty to enforce the law.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

施shīcast/carry out
法fǎspell/law

施 means to cast or carry out and 法 means a spell or law, so 施法 means to cast a spell or enforce law.

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
㫃㫃㫃
Sound part声符shēngfú
也
也yě施shī
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

施 pairs 㫃, the part connected to its meaning, with 也, the part giving its sound.

Open 施 →

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
廌廌zhìa type of antelope or caprid
Sound part声符shēngfú
盍
盍hé法fǎ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

法's older form combined 氵 (water) and 廌 (a type of antelope or caprid), with 盍 as a sound part; later 廌 was dropped.

Open 法 →

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