标兵 (biāo bīng) — (original) parade guard; (extended) model, exemplar (in work, competition, etc.)

Definition

Literally 'parade guard' — the soldier who stands at the head of a formation to mark alignment. By extension, it means a model or exemplar chosen for outstanding performance.

noun
(original) parade guard(extended) modelexemplar (in work, competition, etc.)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 标兵。
    Tā shì yí wèi guāng róng de biāo bīng.
    He is an honored parade guard.
  • ，标兵。
    Zài zhè cì láo dòng jìng sài zhōng, tā bèi píng wéi biāo bīng.
    In this work competition, he was chosen as a model.
  • 标兵。
    Gōng sī měi nián dōu huì píng xuǎn shí míng biāo bīng.
    The company selects ten models every year.

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.

标biāostandard/model
兵bīngsoldier

标 as standard/model plus 兵 as soldier gives a model soldier.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 標; 标 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mù
Sound part声符shēngfú
票
票piào標biāo
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 標 pairs 木 with 票, and 票 gives the sound; the simplified 标 is the modern form of that traditional character.

Open 标 →

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

  • 斤斤jīna short axe
  • 廾廾gǒng2 hands

兵 combines 斤, a short axe, with 廾, two hands, showing a pair of hands holding a weapon.

Open 兵 →

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