设立 (shè lì) — to set up, to establish | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Used mainly for creating institutions, organizations, or systems (an agency, fund, committee). Pairs with concrete entities, unlike 确立 which marks the firm establishment of an abstract principle or status.

verb

to set upto establish

Examples

设立。
Zhèng fǔ shè lì le yí gè xīn jī gòu.
The government set up a new institution.
设立。
Tā men shè lì le yí gè jī jīn lái bāng zhù qióng rén.
They set up a fund to help the poor.
设立。
Gōng sī shè lì le yí gè péi xùn zhōng xīn.
The company set up a training center.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

立lìestablish

设 means set up, and 立 means establish, so the sense is bringing something into being.

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 設; 设 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

埶

埶yì設shè

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 設 uses 言 (speech) to show the meaning and 埶 to give the sound; this explanation is for 設, not the simplified 设.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

立 pictures a person standing on the ground.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 5 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Abstract Concepts

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