竖起 (shù qi) — to raise, to hold up (something upright)

Definition

竖起 is a verb-object compound: 竖 (upright) + 起 (the resultative 'up'). It means raising something into an upright or alert position — often used figuratively (竖起耳朵 'prick up one's ears', 竖起大拇指 'give a thumbs-up').

verb
to raiseto hold up (something upright)

Examples

  • 竖起“”。
    Tā shù qi dà mǔ zhǐ shuō "hǎo".
    He gave a thumbs up and said "good".
  • 竖起。
    Dà jiā shù qi ěr duo tīng lǎo shī jiǎng kè.
    Everyone pricked up their ears to listen to the teacher.
  • 竖起。
    Tā men bǎ pái zi shù qi.
    They raised the sign.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

竖shùerect
起qǐup

竖 means erect and 起 adds upward result, giving to raise something upright.

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 豎; 竖 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
臤臤qiān
Sound part声符shēngfú
豆
豆dòu豎shù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 豎 possibly pairs 臤 with 豆 as a sound component; the simplified 竖 is a shorthand.

Open 竖 →

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
走走zǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
巳
巳sì起qǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

起 is made from 走 and 巳: 走 is the part connected with walking or running, and 巳 gives the sound.

Open 起 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.