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橄榄枝 (gǎn lǎn zhī) — (figurative) olive branch — a symbol or gesture of peace and reconciliation

Definition

Literally 'olive branch,' used almost always figuratively in modern Chinese as a symbol or gesture of peace and reconciliation (e.g. 伸出橄榄枝 'to extend an olive branch').

noun
(figurative) olive branch — a symbol or gesture of peace and reconciliation
Measure word · 枝

Examples

  • ，橄榄枝。
    Zài tán pàn xiàn rù jiāng jú shí, tā shuài xiān shēn chū le gǎn lǎn zhī.
    When the negotiations reached a deadlock, he was the first to extend an olive branch.
  • 橄榄枝，。
    Zhèng fǔ xiàng fǎn duì pài pāo chū le gǎn lǎn zhī, hū yù shuāng fāng tíng zhǐ duì kàng.
    The government tossed an olive branch to the opposition, calling on both sides to stop the confrontation.
  • 橄榄枝。
    Zhè chǎng zhàn zhēng jié shù yú yì fāng sòng lái de gǎn lǎn zhī.
    The war ended with an olive branch sent by one side.

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.

橄榄olive
橄gǎn榄lǎn
枝zhībranch

橄榄 names the olive plant, and 枝 gives the branch it refers to.

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
Sound part声符shēngfú
敢
敢gǎn橄
Same sound today

橄 uses 木 to point to a tree and 敢 to give the sound.

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 欖; 榄 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mùtree
Sound part声符shēngfú
覽
覽lǎn欖lǎn
Same sound today

The traditional form 欖 has 木 (tree) beside 覽, which gives the sound; the simplified 榄 is a later shorthand.

Open 榄 →

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
Sound part声符shēngfú
支
支zhī枝zhī
Same sound today

枝 shows 木 (tree) beside 支, which gives the sound.

Open 枝 →
Appears in
Plants & Flowers

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