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独占 (dú zhàn) — to monopolize

Definition

独占 (dúzhàn) means to monopolize or hog something — to be the only one who has, uses, or controls it. The 近 has the practical sense; 垄断 (lǒngduàn) is the formal/market term for economic monopoly.

verb
to monopolize

Examples

  • 独占。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī jī hū dú zhàn le zhěng gè shì chǎng.
    This company has almost monopolized the entire market.
  • 独占，。
    Tā dú zhàn le suǒ yǒu de wán jù, bú ràng bié rén wán.
    He monopolized all the toys and wouldn't let others play.
  • ，独占。
    Zài tǎo lùn zhōng, tā dú zhàn le fā yán quán.
    In the discussion, he monopolized the right to speak.

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.

独dúalone
占zhànoccupy

“独” means alone/exclusively and “占” means to occupy, together meaning to monopolize.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 獨; 独 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
犭Written in full as犬quǎn
Sound part声符shēngfú
蜀
蜀shǔ獨dú
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 獨 pairs 犬 (dog) with 蜀, which gives the sound; the simplified 独 is a shorthand.

Open 独 →

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 佔; 占 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
占
占zhàn佔zhàn
Same sound today

The traditional form 佔 has a person part 亻 and a sound part 占; the simplified 占 is a later abbreviation.

Open 占 →
Appears in
Business & Commerce

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