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最后通牒 (zuì hòu tōng dié) — ultimatum

Definition

noun
ultimatum
Measure word · 份

Examples

  • 最后通牒。
    Zhèng fǔ xiàng duì fāng fā chū le zuì hòu tōng dié.
    The government issued an ultimatum to the other party.
  • 最后通牒。
    Zhè fèn zuì hòu tōng dié yāo qiú duì fāng zài sān tiān nèi jiē shòu tiáo jiàn.
    This ultimatum requires the other party to accept the conditions within three days.
  • 最后通牒，。
    Shōu dào zuì hòu tōng dié hòu, tā men lì jí zhào kāi huì yì tǎo lùn duì cè.
    After receiving the ultimatum, they immediately convened a meeting to discuss countermeasures.

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.

最后final
最zuìmost后hòulater
偏正Modifier + head
通牒official note
通tōngcommunicate牒diédocument
偏正Modifier + head

“最后” means final, and “通牒” means official note, so it names a final official note.

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
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
取
取qǔ最zuì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape pairs 取, which gives the sound, with a roof-like top from 宀; marks above were later added to separate the “most” meaning.

Open 最 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 後; 后 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 後 showed 夊 (foot) bound by 幺 (thread), a foot caught by a rope and lagging behind; the simplified 后 is a later abbreviation, and 后 also has a different meaning.

Open 后 →

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
甬
甬yǒng通tōng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

通 pairs 辶, a part associated with movement, with 甬, which gives the sound.

Open 通 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Appears in
Conflict & Agreement

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