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节目 (jié mù) — TV program; show; item (on a program)

Definition

节目 refers to a TV or radio program / show — a broadcast segment, not a task or list item. Don't confuse with 项目 (project/agenda item) or 事项 (matter to deal with); those are written/administrative, not entertainment.

noun
TV programshowitem (on a program)
Measure word · 台, 个, 套

Examples

  • 节目。
    Zhè ge jié mù hěn hǎo.
    This program is very good.
  • 节目。
    Nà ge jié mù hěn yǒu qù.
    That program is very interesting.
  • 节目？
    Nǐ xǐ huan kàn shén me jié mù?
    What programs do you like to watch?

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

节jiésection
目mùitem

节 and 目 both mean a section or item, so 节目 names one item in a show.

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 節; 节 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺮Written in full as竹zhúbamboo
Sound part声符shēngfú
即
即jí節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 節 pairs ⺮ (bamboo) with 即, which gives the sound; the bamboo part points to a node of bamboo. The simplified 节 is a later abbreviation.

Open 节 →

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

目 began as a drawing of a human eye, turned sideways.

Open 目 →
Appears in
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