旗语 (qí yǔ) — semaphore (using flags); flag signaling | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

semaphore (using flags)flag signaling

Examples

旗语。
Shuǐ shǒu men yòng qí yǔ chuán dì xìn xī.
The sailors used semaphore to convey information.
旗语。
qí yǔ Shì yì zhǒng gǔ lǎo de tōng xìn fāng shì.
Flag signaling is an ancient form of communication.
旗语。
Xué xí qí yǔ xū yào jì zhù gè zhǒng xìn hào de hán yì.
Learning semaphore requires memorizing the meanings of various signals.

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.

语yǔlanguage

旗 'flag' and 语 'language' name a system of signaling with flags.

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flag

Sound part声符shēngfú

其

其qí旗qí

Same sound today

旗 pairs 㫃, a flag, with 其, which gives the pronunciation qí.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 語; 语 is its simplified writing.

言吾語

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

吾

吾wú語yǔ

Same sound today

The form 語 pairs 言 (speech) with 吾, which gives the sound; this note is about 語, not 语.

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