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编写 (biān xiě) — to compile, to write (a book, report, software, etc.)

Definition

编写 means to write or compile a longer work (a book, report, software). Pairs with 编: 编 focuses on editing/compiling existing material; 编写 emphasizes authoring new content. Compare 编辑 (edit / editor) and 编程 (code).

verb
to compileto write (a book, report, software, etc.)

Examples

  • 编写。
    Zhè ge ruǎn jiàn shì tā yí gè rén biān xiě de.
    This software was written by him alone.
  • 编写。
    Lǎo shī ràng wǒ men biān xiě yí fèn diào chá bào gào.
    The teacher asked us to write a survey report.
  • 编写。
    Tā zhèng zài biān xiě yì běn guān yú lì shǐ de xiǎo shuō.
    He is writing a novel about history.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

编biāncompile
写xiěwrite

The two parts mean compile and write, together indicating assembling materials into written form.

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 編; 编 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìthread
Sound part声符shēngfú
扁
扁biǎn編biān
Same sound today

The traditional form 編 pairs 糸 (thread), for knitting a book together, with 扁 as the sound part; the simplified 编 is only a shorthand.

Open 编 →

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 寫; 写 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀mián
Sound part声符shēngfú
舄
舄xì寫xiě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 寫 combines 宀 with 舄 for the sound; this note is about 寫, not the simplified 写.

Open 写 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6Reading & Writing

Browse more HSK 6 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.