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谱写 (pǔ xiě) — to compose (music, a song); (figurative) to write (a chapter, a story, a history)

Definition

A formal, written verb meaning 'to compose' (music) and, figuratively, 'to write/create' (a chapter, a page of history). Pairs with abstract nouns like 篇章 and 篇章/历史/新篇章; not used for ordinary everyday writing.

verb
to compose (music, a song)(figurative) to write (a chapter, a story, a history)

Examples

  • 谱写。
    Zhè wèi yīn yuè jiā pǔ xiě le xǔ duō yōu měi de qǔ zi.
    This musician composed many beautiful pieces.
  • 谱写。
    Tā men yòng qīng chūn pǔ xiě le zhuàng lì de piān zhāng.
    They wrote a magnificent chapter with their youth.
  • 谱写。
    Zhè shǒu gē shì tā zài èr shí suì shí pǔ xiě de.
    This song was composed by him when he was twenty years old.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

谱pǔcompose
写xiěwrite

谱 gives compose, and 写 gives write, meaning to compose by writing.

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 譜; 谱 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánsound
Sound part声符shēngfú
普
普pǔ譜pǔ(r)
Same sound today

In the traditional form 譜, 言 relates to sound and 普 gives the pronunciation; this explanation is about 譜, not the simplified 谱.

Open 谱 →

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 →
Appears in
MusicReading & Writing

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