活结 (huó jié) — slipknot

Definition

A slipknot — a knot that can be undone quickly by pulling one end. 活 literally means 'living/movable', highlighting that the knot is designed to be released easily, unlike a fixed knot.

noun
slipknot
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 活结。
    Tā yòng shéng zi dǎ le yí gè huó jié.
    He tied a slipknot with the rope.
  • 活结。
    Zhè ge huó jié hěn róng yì jiù néng jiě kāi.
    This slipknot can be untied very easily.
  • ，活结。
    Zài yě wài shēng cún zhōng, huó jié shì yì zhǒng hěn shí yòng de shéng jié.
    In wilderness survival, the slipknot is a very practical knot.

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.

活huóloose
结jiéknot

A 结 that is 活, loose or slip, names a slipknot.

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠯑
𠯑𠯑活huó
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

活 is built from 氵 (water) and 𠯑, which shows the sound; 𠯑 later changed into 舌.

Open 活 →

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 結; 结 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
吉
吉jí結jié
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 結 pairs 糸 with 吉; 吉 gives the sound, and 糸 relates to the meaning. The simplified 结 is a later shorthand.

Open 结 →

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