架起 (jià qǐ) — to erect; to put up; to set up (a bridge, wires, equipment, etc.); (figurative) to build; to establish (a connection, relationship, etc.)

Definition

架起 is a separable verb meaning 'to set up, put up' physical things (bridges, wires, equipment), or figuratively 'to build' a connection or relationship. Splits in 把/了 constructions: 把桥架起来.

verb
to erectto put upto set up (a bridge, wires, equipment, etc.)(figurative) to buildto establish (a connection, relationship, etc.)

Examples

  • 架起。
    Gōng rén men zhèng zài hé shàng jià qǐ yí zuò xīn qiáo.
    The workers are putting up a new bridge over the river.
  • 架起，。
    Tā jià qǐ xiàng jī, pāi xià le nà fú měi lì de fēng jǐng.
    He set up his camera and captured that beautiful scenery.
  • 架起。
    Zhè cì duì huà wèi liǎng guó jià qǐ le lǐ jiě de qiáo liáng.
    This dialogue built a bridge of understanding between the two countries.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

架jiàset up
起qǐup

架 means to set up, and 起 adds the sense of raising, so 架起 means to put something up.

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
木木mùtree, wood
Sound part声符shēngfú
加
加jiā架jià
Same sound today

架 shows 木, meaning wood, with 加 giving the sound; it refers to a wooden prop.

Open 架 →

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
走走zǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
巳
巳sì起qǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

起 is made from 走 and 巳: 走 is the part connected with walking or running, and 巳 gives the sound.

Open 起 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.