独木桥 (dú mù qiáo) — single-plank bridge; log bridge; difficult or risky path (figurative)

Definition

Literally a log/single-plank bridge, but most often used figuratively for a narrow, risky path where only one person can pass at a time (e.g. 千军万马过独木桥).

noun
single-plank bridgelog bridgedifficult or risky path (figurative)
Measure word · 座

Examples

  • 独木桥，。
    Zhè tiáo xiǎo hé shàng zhǐ yǒu yí zuò dú mù qiáo, zǒu de shí hou yào xiǎo xīn.
    There's only a single-plank bridge over this small stream — be careful when crossing.
  • 独木桥，。
    Gāo kǎo jiù xiàng zǒu dú mù qiáo, qiān jūn wàn mǎ guò dú mù qiáo.
    The college entrance exam is like walking a single-plank bridge — thousands of troops crossing a narrow log.
  • 独木桥，。
    Chuàng yè zhè tiáo lù shì tiáo dú mù qiáo, dàn jiān chí xià qù jiù yǒu xī wàng.
    The path of entrepreneurship is a difficult one, but if you persist there's hope.

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.

独木single log
独dúsingle木mùwood
偏正Modifier + head
桥qiáobridge

独 (single) and 木 (wood) describe a lone log laid across, forming a narrow bridge.

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 →

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

木 is drawn as a tree, with branches above and roots below.

Open 木 →

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 橋; 桥 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mùwood
Sound part声符shēngfú
喬
喬qiáo橋qiáo
Same sound today

The traditional form 橋 pairs 木 (wood) with 喬 (qiáo), which gave the character its sound; the simplified 桥 is a later abbreviation.

Open 桥 →

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