最高分 (zuì gāo fēn) — highest score; highest grade; maximum marks

Definition

noun

highest scorehighest grademaximum marks

Measure word · 个

最高分。
Tā zhè cì kǎo shì dé le zuì gāo fēn.
He got the highest score on this exam.
最高分。
Tā de yǎn jiǎng huò dé le píng wěi gěi chū de zuì gāo fēn.
Her speech earned the highest marks from the judges.
，最高分。
Zài bǐ sài zhōng, tā yì zhí bǎo chí zhe zuì gāo fēn.
She maintained the highest score throughout the competition.

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.

最高highest

偏正Modifier + head

“最” intensifies “高”, and “最高” singles out the top “分”.

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.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

高 was drawn as a tall building.

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

八刀分

分 pairs 八 (to separate) with 刀 (knife), showing something cut apart with a knife.

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