结案 (jié àn) — to close a case, to wrap up a legal case | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

"To close/wrap up a legal case" — 结 means to finish or conclude, 案 is a case or legal file. Used in formal/legal contexts when a case is officially settled.

verb

to close a caseto wrap up a legal case

Examples

结案。
Zhè ge àn zi yǐ jīng jié àn le.
This case has already been closed.
。
Fǎ guān xuān bù zhèng shì jié le zhè ge àn.
The judge announced the formal closure of this case.
结案。
Tā men yòng le sān gè yuè cái jié àn.
It took them three months to close the case.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

结 means close and 案 means case, so it describes closing a case.

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 結; 结 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糸糸mì

Sound part声符shēngfú

吉

吉jí結jié

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

The traditional form 結 pairs 糸 with 吉; 吉 gives the sound, and 糸 relates to the meaning. The simplified 结 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.

木安案

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

安

安ān案àn

Same sound today

案 pairs 木, a wood/tree shape, with 安, which is used for its sound.

Appears in

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