起诉书 (qǐ sù shū) — indictment, prosecution document

Definition

noun
indictmentprosecution document
Measure word · 份

Examples

  • 起诉书。
    Jiǎn chá guān yǐ jīng zhǔn bèi hǎo le qǐ sù shū.
    The prosecutor has prepared the indictment.
  • 起诉书。
    Fǎ yuàn shōu dào le zhè fèn qǐ sù shū.
    The court received this indictment.
  • 起诉书。
    Bèi gào de lǜ shī zǐ xì yuè dú le qǐ sù shū.
    The defendant's lawyer carefully read the indictment.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

起诉initiate a lawsuit
起qǐinitiate诉sùlawsuit
动宾Verb + object
书shūdocument

起诉书 is a 书, a document, for 起诉, the act of initiating a lawsuit.

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
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 訴; 诉 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánword, speak
Sound part声符shēngfú
斥
斥chì訴sù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 訴 pairs 言 (word, speak) with 斥, which gives the sound and points to accusing by speech. The simplified 诉 is a later shorthand.

Open 诉 →

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 書; 书 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
聿聿yùwriting brush
Sound part声符shēngfú
者
者zhě書shū
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 書 uses 聿, a writing brush, and 者 for its sound; the simplified 书 is a later shorthand.

Open 书 →
Appears in

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