轻骑 (qīng qí) — light cavalry (military); lightweight motorcycle; moped; scooter; motorbike

Definition

Two senses: historical 'light cavalry' (soldiers on fast horses) and modern 'lightweight motorcycle / moped'. The name emphasizes speed and small size in both meanings.

noun
light cavalry (military)lightweight motorcyclemopedscootermotorbike
Measure word · 辆

Examples

  • 轻骑。
    Tā qí zhe yí liàng qīng qí zài jiē shàng fēi chí.
    He sped down the street on a moped.
  • 轻骑。
    Gǔ dài qīng qí bù duì xíng dòng fēi cháng xùn sù.
    Ancient light cavalry units moved very quickly.
  • 轻骑，。
    Zhè liàng qīng qí suī rán xiǎo, dàn hěn shěng yóu.
    This motorbike is small but very fuel-efficient.

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.

轻qīnglight
骑qírider/cavalry

轻 “light” and 骑 “rider/cavalry” combine to mean lightly equipped cavalry or a light motorcycle.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 輕; 轻 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jūcarriage
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng輕qīng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 輕 pairs 車, a carriage, with 巠 to give the sound; it originally named a light carriage. The simplified 轻 is only a later shorthand.

Open 轻 →

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 騎; 骑 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
馬馬mǎhorse
Sound part声符shēngfú
奇
奇qí騎qí
Same sound today

The traditional form 騎 combines 馬, meaning horse, with 奇, which supplies the sound, for riding a horse; the simplified 骑 is a later shorthand.

Open 骑 →

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