起程 (qǐ chéng) — to set out; to depart (on a journey) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

起程 is a formal/written verb meaning 'to set out on a journey,' paired with 启程 as the traditional-character variant. More literary than the everyday 出发 and 动身, which suit casual speech.

verb

to set outto depart (on a journey)

Easily confused

启程qǐ chéngsound-aliketo set out on a journey, to depart

Examples

起程。
Wǒ men míng tiān xià wǔ qǐ chéng qù shàng hǎi.
We'll set out for Shanghai tomorrow afternoon.
起程。
Tā zuó tiān yǐ jīng qǐ chéng le.
He already set off yesterday.
起程？
Zhè cì lǚ xíng cóng nǎ lǐ qǐ chéng?
Where does this trip depart from?

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

程chéngjourney

起 means start and 程 means journey, so it describes leaving on a trip.

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.

走巳起

Meaning part形符xíngfú

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.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

禾呈程

Meaning part形符xíngfú

禾禾hégrain

Sound part声符shēngfú

呈

呈chéng程chéng

Same sound today

程 is made from 禾 (grain) and 呈 (pronounced chéng); the evidence gives measurements.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Change & Process Travel & Tourism

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