解气 (jiě qì) — to vent anger; to feel relieved after settling…

Definition

A verb–object phrase: releasing built-up anger so you feel better. Often used with 不了 when an action fails to provide relief (解不了气).

verb

to vent angerto feel relieved after settling a grievance

解气。
Tā mà le wǒ yí dùn cái jué de jiě qì.
He only felt relieved after scolding me a lot.
，。
Zhè jiàn shì tài qì rén le, wǒ dé zhǎo gè bàn fǎ jiě jiě qì.
This matter is so infuriating, I have to find a way to let off steam.
，。
Nǐ gēn tā chǎo yí jià yě jiě bù liǎo qì, bù rú lěng jìng xià lái.
Quarreling with him won't vent your anger; you'd better calm down.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

解jiěuntie/relieve

'解' (untie/relieve) and '气' (anger) combine to mean relieving anger.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 氣; 气 is its simplified writing.

气米氣

Meaning part形符xíngfú

米米mǐrice

Sound part声符shēngfú

气

Same sound today

The traditional form 氣 pairs 米 (rice) with 气, which supplies the sound; the simplified 气 is a later abbreviation.