结缘 (jié yuán) — to form ties or connections (originally a Buddhist concept of karmic bonds); (extended) to become involved or linked with something (e.g., a hobby, a place, a person)

Definition

结缘 means to form a personal bond or connection with something — originally a Buddhist term for karmic ties, now extended to any lasting link with a hobby, place, or person.

verb
to form ties or connections (originally a Buddhist concept of karmic bonds)(extended) to become involved or linked with something (e.g., a hobby, a place, a person)

Examples

  • 结缘。
    Tā cóng xiǎo jiù yǔ yīn yuè jié yuán.
    He has been connected with music since childhood.
  • ，。
    Tā men jié le yuán, cóng cǐ chéng le hǎo péng you.
    They formed a bond and became good friends from then on.
  • 结缘。
    Hěn duō rén yīn wèi zhè běn shū yǔ fó fǎ jié yuán.
    Many people have formed a connection with Buddhism because of this book.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

结jiétie
缘yuánaffinity

结 means to tie or form, and 缘 means affinity or connection; together they describe forming bonds.

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.

Open 结 →

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 緣; 缘 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
彖
彖tuàn緣⁰yuán
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 緣 puts 糸 (silk) beside 彖, which gives the sound; the simplified 缘 is a later abbreviation.

Open 缘 →

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