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训诫 (xùn jiè) — to reprimand, to admonish (formally)

Definition

训诫 is a formal verb meaning to officially reprimand or admonish, often from a superior or authority figure. It is more serious and written than everyday words for scolding, and takes a direct object (the person being reprimanded).

verb
to reprimandto admonish (formally)

Examples

  • 训诫。
    Tā zài huì shàng shòu dào le lǐng dǎo de yán lì xùn jiè.
    He received a severe reprimand from the leader at the meeting.
  • 训诫。
    Fù qīn duì ér zi de xíng wéi jìn xíng le xùn jiè.
    The father admonished his son for his behavior.
  • 训诫。
    Fǎ guān duì bèi gào jìn xíng le kǒu tóu xùn jiè.
    The judge gave the defendant a verbal reprimand.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

训xùninstruct/admonish
诫jièadmonish

训 and 诫 both mean admonishing, so together they form a formal reprimand.

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 訓; 训 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánspeech
Sound part声符shēngfú
川
川chuān訓xùn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

For 训, the traditional form 訓 puts 言 (speech) beside 川, a sound part, and conveys preaching a teaching.

Open 训 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 誡; 诫 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 誡 pairs 言, speech, with 戒, read jiè and meaning guard against; the simplified 诫 is a later shorthand.

Open 诫 →
Appears in
Communication & SpeechLaw & Justice

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