空缺 (kòng quē) — vacancy; vacant position | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

vacancyvacant position

Measure word · 个

Examples

空缺。
Gōng sī mù qián yǒu yí gè kòng quē xū yào tián bǔ.
The company currently has a vacancy that needs to be filled.
空缺，。
Zhè ge zhí wèi chū xiàn le kòng quē, gōng sī zhèng zài zhāo rén.
A vacancy has appeared in this position, and the company is recruiting.
，空缺。
Jīng guò nǔ lì, tā men zhǎo dào le hé shì de rén lái tián bǔ zhè ge kòng quē.
After efforts, they found a suitable person to fill this vacancy.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

'空' and '缺' both express emptiness or lack, so together they refer to a vacancy.

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.

穴工空

Meaning part形符xíngfú

穴穴xuécave, hole

Sound part声符shēngfú

工

工gōng空kōng

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

空 is built from 穴, a cave or hole, and 工, which gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

缶夬缺

Meaning part形符xíngfú

缶缶fǒuearthen pot

Sound part声符shēngfú

夬

夬guài缺quē

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

缺 pairs 缶, an earthen pot, with 夬, which gives the sound.

Appears in

Workplace & Office

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