着数 (zhāo shù) — (chess) a move; (martial arts, stage) a movemen…

Definition

noun

(chess) a move(martial arts, stage) a movement or gesture(figurative) a trickschemeor gambit

Easily confused

着数，。
Tā xià le zhè yí bù zhāo shù, jú miàn jiù wán quán biàn le.
He made this move, and the situation completely changed.
着数，。
Lǎo shī jiào wǒ men jǐ gè jī běn de zhāo shù, xū yào fǎn fù liàn xí.
The teacher taught us a few basic moves that need repeated practice.
着数，。
Tā yòng le yí gè qiǎo miào de zhāo shù, chéng gōng shuō fú le dà jiā.
He used a clever trick and successfully persuaded everyone.

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.

数shùtechnique

着 and 数 both denote a move or technique, so the word covers a chess move, trick, or scheme.

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 著; 着 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

艸艸cǎograss; plant

Sound part声符shēngfú

者

者zhě著zháo

Same sound today

The traditional form 著 puts 艸 (grass; plant) above 者, which gives the sound; the simplified 着 is a later shorthand.

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 數; 数 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

攴攴pū

Sound part声符shēngfú

婁

婁lóu數shù(r)

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

The traditional form 數 pairs 攴, the meaning part, with 婁, the sound part; the simplified 数 is a shorthand.