追踪 (zhuī zōng) — to track, to trace, to pursue | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

追踪 (zhuīzōng) is 'to track / trace' — following a trail of evidence or data (scientists, police, apps). 跟踪 is more physical/tailing a person, 追逐 is chasing to catch.

verb

to trackto traceto pursue

Examples

追踪。
Kē xué jiā yòng wèi xīng zhuī zōng hòu niǎo de qiān xǐ lù xiàn.
Scientists use satellites to track the migration routes of migratory birds.
DNA追踪。
Jǐng fāng tōng guò DNA jì shù zhuī zōng dào le xián yí rén.
The police tracked down the suspect through DNA technology.
追踪。
Nǐ kě yǐ yòng zhè ge ruǎn jiàn zhuī zōng měi tiān de xiāo fèi qíng kuàng.
You can use this app to track your daily spending.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

追 means pursue and 踪 means trace; together they mean following a trail.

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.

辶𠂤追

Meaning part形符xíngfú

辶Written in full as辵chuòmovement

Sound part声符shēngfú

𠂤

𠂤𠂤追zhuī

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The 辶 part shows movement, while 𠂤 gives the sound, for the sense of moving after or pursuing.

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

宗

宗zōng踪zōng

Same sound today

踪 pairs 足, a foot, with 宗, which gives the sound zōng.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words 3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words 5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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