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组成 (zǔ chéng) — to form, to make up, to constitute

Definition

组成 (zǔchéng) means the parts make up the whole — used when several elements combine to form something larger, like 'Water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen.' Slightly more everyday than 构成, which is more formal/written.

verb
to formto make upto constitute

Examples

  • 组成。
    Zhè ge xiǎo zǔ yóu wǔ míng xué shēng zǔ chéng.
    This group is made up of five students.
  • 组成。
    Shuǐ yóu qīng hé yǎng zǔ chéng.
    Water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen.
  • 组成。
    Zhè xiē jù zi zǔ chéng le yì piān duǎn wén.
    These sentences form a short essay.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

组zǔassemble
成chéngbecome

组 means to assemble, and 成 means to become, so the word means to assemble into a whole.

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 組; 组 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìsilk
Sound part声符shēngfú
且
且qiě組zǔ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 組 pairs 糸 (silk) with 且 as a sound part; the simplified 组 is a shorthand.

Open 组 →

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
戊戊wù
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng成chéng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

成 puts 戊, a weapon, beside 丁, which gives the sound. The weapon part relates to protection, as in the old sense of city walls.

Open 成 →
Appears in
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