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破土动工 (pò tǔ dòng gōng) — (idiom) to break ground; to start construction (of a building or project)

Definition

An idiom meaning to break ground and officially begin construction of a building or project. Used for ceremonial or formal launches, not for casual DIY or small repairs.

idiom
to break groundto start construction (of a building or project)

Examples

  • 破土动工。
    Zhè ge xiàng mù xià ge yuè pò tǔ dòng gōng.
    This project will break ground next month.
  • 破土动工。
    Tā men wèi xīn de xué xiào pò tǔ dòng gōng.
    They broke ground for the new school.
  • ，破土动工。
    Zuó tiān, zhè zuò dà qiáo zhèng shì pò tǔ dòng gōng.
    Yesterday, this bridge officially broke ground.

Origin

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
石石shí
Sound part声符shēngfú
皮
皮pí破pò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

破 has 石 (stone) as its meaning part and 皮 as its sound part.

Open 破 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 土 →

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 動; 动 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
重
重zhòng動dòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 動 uses 力 (strength) and 重 as a sound part; 重 refers to a heavy bag ready to be moved by a human. This note is about 動, not 动.

Open 动 →

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

The shape of 工 is a picture of a bladed tool used to plow ground or mark a border; some read it as a carpenter's square.

Open 工 →
Appears in
Buildings & StructuresIdioms & Set Phrases

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