跳出 (tiào chū) — to jump out (of), to leap out (from); (figurative) to break out of, to quit (a troublesome situation)

Definition

A verb-result compound: 跳 (jump) + 出 (out). Used both literally for jumping out of a space and figuratively for breaking out of a constrained situation like a comfort zone or predicament.

verb
to jump out (of)to leap out (from)(figurative) to break out ofto quit (a troublesome situation)

Examples

  • 跳出。
    Tā tiào chū le chuāng hu.
    He jumped out of the window.
  • 跳出。
    Tā zhōng yú tiào chū le nà ge kùn jìng.
    He finally broke out of that predicament.
  • 跳出。
    Tā jué dìng tiào chū shū shì qū.
    She decided to step out of her comfort zone.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

跳tiàojump
出chūout

跳 means jump and 出 means out, so 跳出 is to jump out or leave a situation.

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
足足zúfoot
Sound part声符shēngfú
兆
兆zhào跳tiào
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

跳 pairs 足 (foot) with 兆, which supplies the sound; the foot part shows the action is done with the feet.

Open 跳 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

出 combines 止 (foot) and 凵 (cave) to show a foot stepping out of a cave.

Open 出 →

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