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警备 (jǐng bèi) — guard (security detail or force); garrison

Definition

警备 (jǐngbèi) is the formal, military-flavored noun for a guard force or security detail on duty — concrete troops/patrols, not an abstract state like 安全 ('safety').

noun
guard (security detail or force)garrison
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 警备，。
    Zhè lǐ de jǐng bèi fēi cháng yán mì, pǔ tōng rén bù néng jìn rù.
    The security here is very tight; ordinary people cannot enter.
  • 警备。
    Gōng sī zuì jìn jiā qiáng le yè jiān jǐng bèi.
    The company recently strengthened its nighttime security.
  • 警备。
    jǐng bèi Bù duì yǐ jīng zhěng zhuāng dài fā.
    The guard unit is already ready to set off.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

警jǐngalert
备bèiprepare

警 and 备 both involve watching and preparing, so the word names a guard or garrison.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánspoken language, speech
Sound part声符shēngfú
敬
敬jìng警
Same sound today

警 places 言 (speech) below 敬; 敬 gives the sound.

Open 警 →

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 備; 备 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 備 shows a person carrying a quiver, matching the meaning 'ready; prepared'; the simplified 备 is a later abbreviation.

Open 备 →
Appears in
Military & Defense

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