进言 (jìn yán) — to offer advice (to a superior or in a formal context)

Definition

进言 (jìn yán) is a formal verb meaning to offer advice, typically to a superior or in an official context — not everyday casual advice-giving.

verb
to offer advice (to a superior or in a formal context)

Examples

  • 进言。
    Tā xiàng lǎo bǎn yǒng gǎn dì jìn yán.
    He boldly offered advice to the boss.
  • ，。
    Wǒ gěi tā jìn guò yí cì yán, dàn tā méi tīng.
    I once offered advice to him, but he didn't listen.
  • ，进言。
    Zài huì yì shàng, tā dà dǎn jìn yán.
    At the meeting, she boldly offered advice.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

进jìnoffer
言yánwords

进 (offer) plus 言 (words) gives offering advice.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 進; 进 is its simplified writing.

  • 辵辵chuòwalk
  • 隹隹zhuīshort-tail bird

The traditional form 進 pairs 辵 (walk) with 隹 (short-tail bird): the picture showed moving forward because a bird can only walk forward, not backward. The simplified 进 is a later shorthand.

Open 进 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

The early form of 言 shows an opening and a mark indicating a location; the location is not described as the source of speech.

Open 言 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.