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正轨 (zhèng guǐ) — the correct track, the right path, the proper course (often used in fixed phrases like 走上正轨 or 纳入正轨)

Definition

Abstract noun for 'the right track / proper course' — used almost only in fixed phrases like 走上正轨 or 纳入正轨, not as a standalone everyday word. The emphasis is on returning to or establishing a correct, normal order after deviation.

noun
the correct trackthe right paththe proper course (often used in fixed phrases like 走上正轨 or 纳入正轨)

Examples

  • ，正轨。
    Jīng guò gǎi gé, gōng sī zhōng yú zǒu shàng le zhèng guǐ.
    After reforms, the company finally got on the right track.
  • 正轨。
    Wǒ men xū yào bǎ jīng jì nà rù zhèng guǐ.
    We need to bring the economy onto the correct track.
  • ，正轨。
    Yì qíng hòu, shēng huó kāi shǐ huī fù zhèng guǐ.
    After the pandemic, life began to return to normal.

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.

正zhèngcorrect
轨guǐtrack

正 means correct and 轨 means track, together mean the correct track or proper course.

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
止止zhǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng正zhèng
Same sound today

正 pairs 止 with 丁; 止 marks the sense and 丁 gives the sound.

Open 正 →

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 軌; 轨 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jū
Sound part声符shēngfú
九
九jiǔ軌guǐ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 軌 pairs 車 (cart) with 九 as a sound part; the simplified 轨 is a later shorthand.

Open 轨 →
Appears in
Abstract Concepts

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