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走样 (zǒu yàng) — to lose shape, to become deformed (of physical objects); to go wrong, to deviate from the original (of plans, ideals, etc.)

Definition

Verb-object phrase meaning 'to lose its shape' — used for both physical objects warping (clothes after washing) and abstract things like plans or designs drifting from the original.

verb
to lose shapeto become deformed (of physical objects)to go wrongto deviate from the original (of plans, ideals, etc.)

Examples

  • 走样。
    Zhè jiàn yī fu xǐ le yǐ hòu zǒu yàng le.
    This piece of clothing lost its shape after washing.
  • 走样，。
    Zhè ge jì huà wán quán zǒu yàng le, dé chóng xīn kāi shǐ.
    This plan has completely gone wrong; we need to start over.
  • ，。
    Zhè ge shè jì yǐ jīng zǒu le yàng, xū yào xiū gǎi.
    This design has already deviated from the original; it needs revision.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

走zǒulose
样yàngshape

走 conveys losing or deviating, and 样 is shape, so the whole means losing the original shape.

Characters in this word

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

The original shape showed a running man, with a foot added later.

Open 走 →

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 樣; 样 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mùwood
Sound part声符shēngfú
羕
羕yàng樣yàng
Same sound today

For 样, the traditional form 樣 pairs 木 (wood) with 羕 as a sound part.

Open 样 →
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