迈开 (mài kāi) — to stride forward, to take a step (forward); (figuratively) to take a step toward a goal, to embark on

Definition

A verb-object phrase: 迈 (stride) + 开 (away, outward). 迈开腿 literally means to stride one's legs forward, used for taking a decisive physical or figurative first step.

verb
to stride forwardto take a step (forward)(figuratively) to take a step toward a goalto embark on

Examples

  • 迈开。
    Tā dà bù xiàng qián mài kāi.
    He strode forward with big steps.
  • 迈开，。
    Tā mài kāi le tuǐ, kāi shǐ pǎo bù.
    She took a stride and started running.
  • 迈开。
    Wǒ men yào yǒng gǎn dì mài kāi xīn de yí bù.
    We must bravely take a new step forward.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

迈màistride
开kāiopen

迈开 pairs 迈, to stride, with 开, indicating opening or moving away, giving the sense of starting to stride.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 迈 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 開; 开 is its simplified writing.

  • 門門méndoor
  • 一一yīlatch and/or wooden pole that shuts a door
  • 廾廾gǒnga pair of hands

The traditional form 開 shows 廾, a pair of hands, and 一, a latch or pole, inside 門, a door: hands opening a latched door. The simplified 开 is a shorthand form, so its parts are not the original pieces.

Open 开 →

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