照会 (zhào huì) — (noun) diplomatic note; formal written communication between governments; (verb) to present a diplomatic note; to formally notify (a foreign government)

Definition

noun
diplomatic noteformal written communication between governments
verb
to present a diplomatic noteto formally notify (a foreign government)
Measure word · 份

Examples

  • 照会。
    Liǎng guó tōng guò zhào huì jiāo huàn le yì jiàn.
    The two countries exchanged views through diplomatic notes.
  • 照会。
    Wài jiāo bù xiàng shǐ guǎn fā chū le zhào huì.
    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a diplomatic note to the embassy.
  • 照会，。
    Zhōng fāng yǐ zhèng shì zhào huì měi fāng, yāo qiú duì fāng zuò chū jiě shì.
    China has formally notified the US side, demanding an explanation.

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.

照zhàonotify
会huìmeet or consult

'照' conveys notifying and '会' conveys meeting or consulting, so the word names a formal diplomatic communication.

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
灬Written in full as火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
昭
昭zhāo照zhào
Same sound today

照 uses 灬, a bottom form of 火 (fire), plus 昭 for the sound.

Open 照 →

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 會; 会 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
合合héto meet
Sound part声符shēngfú
𡆧
𡆧𡆧會huì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

Traditional 會 pairs 合 (to meet) with 𡆧, an original form for ironware, to give the sound. The simplified 会 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the original parts.

Open 会 →

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