更迭 (gēng dié) — to change in sequence; to alternate; to succeed one another (of seasons, governments, dynasties, etc.)

Definition

更迭 means things in a sequence (seasons, leaders, regimes) replace one another in turn — a written, formal verb. Compared to the plain verb 换 (huàn, to swap/change), 更迭 emphasizes orderly succession over time.

verb
to change in sequenceto alternateto succeed one another (of seasons, governments, dynasties, etc.)

Examples

  • 更迭。
    Zhèng quán gēng dié shì lì shǐ de cháng tài.
    The alternation of political power is a normal part of history.
  • 更迭，。
    Suí zhe jì jié de gēng dié, tiān qì zhú jiàn biàn lěng le.
    As the seasons change, the weather gradually gets colder.
  • 更迭。
    Gōng sī gāo céng lǐng dǎo de gēng dié dài lái le xīn de guǎn lǐ lǐ niàn.
    The change of top leadership in the company brought new management philosophies.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

更gèngchange
迭diéalternate

“更” and “迭” both give change or succession, making a sequence of alternation.

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pūhand holding a whip; action
Sound part声符shēngfú
𰀒
𰀒𰀒更gēng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The old form showed two chariots, 𰀒; 攴, a hand holding a whip, was added to show action, and one chariot part was dropped. The remaining part changed into the shape seen in 更.

Open 更 →

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
辶Written in full as辵chuò
Sound part声符shēngfú
失
失shī迭dié
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

迭 combines 辶, written in full as 辵, with 失 as its sound component.

Open 迭 →

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