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起义 (qǐ yì) — (verb) to rise up in revolt (righteous rebellion); (noun) uprising, revolt (with positive connotation)

Definition

An uprising framed as justified or righteous — used for politically or morally sanctioned revolts (e.g. peasant uprisings). Lighter and more approving than 造反, which often implies rebellion against a legitimate order.

verb
to rise up in revolt (righteous rebellion)
noun
uprisingrevolt (with positive connotation)
Measure word · 次

Examples

  • 起义。
    Lì shǐ shàng yǒu hěn duō nóng mín qǐ yì.
    There have been many peasant uprisings in history.
  • 起义。
    Tā men zhōng yú qǐ yì le.
    They finally rose up in revolt.
  • 起义。
    Zhè shì yì chǎng zhèng yì de qǐ yì.
    This is a just uprising.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

起qǐrise
义yìrighteousness

起 “rise” and 义 “righteousness” combine to mean rising up for a righteous cause.

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
走走zǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
巳
巳sì起qǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

起 is made from 走 and 巳: 走 is the part connected with walking or running, and 巳 gives the sound.

Open 起 →

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 義; 义 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
羊羊yáng
Sound part声符shēngfú
我
我wǒ義yì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 義 has 我 giving the sound and 羊 meaning good or auspicious; the simplified 义 is a later abbreviation.

Open 义 →
Appears in
HSK 2.0 Level 6Government & PoliticsMilitary & Defense

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