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自卫队 (zì wèi duì) — Self-Defense Forces (Japan's military)

Definition

The proper name for Japan's Self-Defense Forces (自衛隊, Jieitai) — its post-WWII military, constitutionally limited to self-defense. Typically refers specifically to Japan's forces, not a generic militia.

noun
Self-Defense Forces (Japan's military)

Examples

  • 自卫队。
    Rì běn zì wèi duì zài zāi hài jiù yuán zhōng fā huī le zhòng yào zuò yòng.
    Japan's Self-Defense Forces played an important role in disaster relief.
  • 自卫队，。
    Guān yú zì wèi duì de xiàn fǎ dì wèi, gè fāng zhēng lùn bù xiū.
    There is endless debate over the constitutional status of the Self-Defense Forces.
  • 自卫队。
    zì wèi duì De guó fáng yù suàn lián nián zēng jiā.
    The defense budget of the Self-Defense Forces has increased year after year.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

自卫self-defense
自zìself卫wèidefense
偏正Modifier + head
队duìcorps

The 'self' and 'defense' parts combine with 'corps' to name a self-defense force.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

自 originally drew a nose. It was borrowed purely for its sound to write 自, so the picture and the meaning are unrelated.

Open 自 →

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 衛; 卫 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
行行xíng
Sound part声符shēngfú
韋
韋wéi衛wèi
Same sound today

The traditional form 衛 is built from 行 as the sense part and 韋 as the sound part; the simplified 卫 is a shorthand.

Open 卫 →

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 隊; 队 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
阜阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
㒸
㒸㒸隊duì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 隊 has 阜 as the meaning part and 㒸 as the sound part.

Open 队 →
Appears in
Groups & OrganizationsMilitary & Defense

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