盟约 (méng yuē) — oath of alliance; treaty of alliance | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A formal written treaty or sworn pact between states or parties, stronger and more solemn than a plain 协议 ('agreement') — usually bound by an oath.

noun

oath of alliancetreaty of alliance

Examples

盟约。
Liǎng guó qiān dìng le bù qīn fàn méng yuē.
The two countries signed a non-aggression treaty.
盟约，。
Tā men lì xià méng yuē, yǒng bú bèi qì.
They made an oath of alliance and will never betray it.
盟约。
Zhè fèn méng yuē yǐ shēng xiào duō nián.
This treaty of alliance has been in effect for many years.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

盟méngalliance

约yuēagreement

The meaning comes from 盟 and 约, both referring to a pact or agreement.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

皿

皿mǐn盟méng

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

盟 pairs 囧 with 皿, and 皿 gives the sound.

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 約; 约 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糸糸mìrope

Sound part声符shēngfú

勺

勺sháo約yuē

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 約 uses 糸, a rope, for its meaning and 勺 for its sound; the simplified 约 is a later shorthand.

Appears in

International & Diplomacy

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