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棋局 (qí jú) — (noun) the arrangement of pieces on a chessboard; the state of a board game; (noun) a game of chess; the playing of a board game

Definition

Refers to a specific board position or the unfolding state of a chess/board game, not just a game in general. Often used figuratively for any complex situation or contest of strategy.

noun
the arrangement of pieces on a chessboardthe state of a board gamea game of chessthe playing of a board game
Measure word · 盘

Examples

  • 棋局，。
    Zhè ge qí jú fēi cháng fù zá, shuāng fāng dōu hěn nán qǔ shèng.
    This chess situation is very complicated; neither side can easily win.
  • 棋局，。
    Tā zǐ xì fēn xī le dāng qián de qí jú, jué dìng xià yí bù zěn me zǒu.
    He carefully analyzed the current board position and decided how to move next.
  • 棋局，。
    Zhěng gè qí jú chí xù le liǎng gè xiǎo shí, zuì hòu yǐ hé qí jié shù.
    The whole game lasted two hours and ended in a draw.

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.

棋qíchess
局júgame

棋 gives the chess or board-game kind, and 局 gives the arrangement or game.

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mùwooden
Sound part声符shēngfú
其
其qí棋qí
Same sound today

棋 has 木 on the left, showing it was made of wood, and 其 on the right gives the sound.

Open 棋 →

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
尸尸shī
Sound part声符shēngfú
句
句jù局jú
Same sound today

The shape of 局 pairs 尸, a meaning part, with 句, a sound part.

Open 局 →
Appears in
Games & Puzzles

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