解惑 (jiě huò) — to dispel doubts, to clarify confusion

Definition

A formal verb meaning 'to dispel doubts / clarify confusion,' often used for teaching or guidance contexts (e.g. a 讲座 or 老师 answering questions).

verb

to dispel doubtsto clarify confusion

解惑。
Lǎo shī nài xīn dì wèi wǒ men jiě huò.
The teacher patiently resolved our doubts.
。
Zhè běn shū néng bāng nǐ jiě kāi xīn zhōng de huò.
This book can help you clear up the confusion in your heart.
解惑。
Tā zhuān mén kāi le yí gè jiě huò de jiǎng zuò.
He held a special lecture to clarify doubts.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

惑huòconfusion

解 dispels 惑, confusion, giving the sense of removing doubts.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

角刀牛解

解 shows 刀 (knife) separating 角 (horn) from 牛 (cow), giving the picture of cutting up an ox.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

或心惑

Meaning part形符xíngfú

心心xīnheart

Sound part声符shēngfú

或

Same sound today

惑 uses 或 for the sound and 心, the heart, for the meaning.