游弋 (yóu yì) — (v.) to cruise; to patrol (of naval vessels)

Definition

Formal/military term: warships or submarines cruising or patrolling a sea area. Implies purposeful presence (showing force, guarding waters), not casual sailing.

verb
(v.) to cruiseto patrol (of naval vessels)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 游弋，。
    Jūn jiàn zài hǎi shàng yóu yì, bǎo wèi guó jiā lǐng hǎi.
    The warship cruised at sea, protecting the nation's territorial waters.
  • 弋，。
    Qián tǐng zài shēn hǎi zhōng yóu yì, zhí xíng mì mì rèn wu.
    The submarine patrolled in the deep sea, carrying out a secret mission.
  • 弋，。
    Jiàn duì zài tài píng yáng shàng yóu yì, xiǎn shì jūn shì shí lì.
    The fleet cruised on the Pacific, demonstrating military strength.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

游yóumove about
弋yìpatrol

游 (to move about) and 弋 (to patrol) combine to describe vessels cruising back and forth.

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
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
斿
斿yóu游yóu
Same sound today

游 combines 水 (water) with 斿, which gives the sound yóu and also relates to travelling.

Open 游 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

弋 was drawn as a sharp peg, the original form for a peg.

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