誊写 (téng xiě) — to transcribe, to copy out (by hand)

Definition

Formal verb meaning 'to transcribe / copy out by hand', usually for manuscripts, drafts, or ancient texts. Distinct from 抄写 (general copying) by its focus on a clean, official copy from a rough draft.

verb
to transcribeto copy out (by hand)

Examples

  • 誊写。
    Tā bǎ zhè fèn shǒu gǎo téng xiě le yí biàn.
    He transcribed this manuscript once.
  • 誊写。
    Lǎo shī yào wǒ men téng xiě kè wén lǐ de shēng cí.
    The teacher asked us to copy out the new words from the text.
  • 誊写。
    Zhè xiē gǔ jí xū yào zǐ xì téng xiě.
    These ancient books need to be carefully transcribed.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

誊téngcopy
写xiěwrite

The 誊 (copy) and 写 (write) combine to mean copying out a text by hand.

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 謄; 誊 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánsay
Sound part声符shēngfú
朕
朕zhèn謄téng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 謄 pairs 言 (say) with the sound 朕; the simplified 誊 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical parts.

Open 誊 →

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 →

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