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案例 (àn lì) — case; instance; example

Definition

A 'case' or 'instance' studied or cited as evidence — like a legal or medical case, or a real-world example used in analysis. More formal and specific than 例子 ('example'); 案件 is reserved for legal/criminal cases.

noun
caseinstanceexample
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 案例。
    Zhè ge yán jiū àn lì hěn yǒu cān kǎo jià zhí.
    This research case has great reference value.
  • 案例案例。
    Yī shēng tǎo lùn le jī àn lì gān yán àn lì.
    The doctor discussed several hepatitis cases.
  • 案例，。
    Zhè shì yí gè lì shǐ àn lì, zhí dé xué xí.
    This is a historical case worth studying.

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.

案àncase
例lìexample

案 'case' narrows 例 'example', giving an example drawn from a case.

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mù
Sound part声符shēngfú
安
安ān案àn
Same sound today

案 pairs 木, a wood/tree shape, with 安, which is used for its sound.

Open 案 →

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
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
列
列liè例lì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

例 is built from 亻, which relates to people, and 列, which gives the sound.

Open 例 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Abstract ConceptsLaw & Justice

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