逐字逐句 (zhú zì zhú jù) — word for word and sentence for sentence; meticulously, covering every word and sentence

Definition

A set-phrase adverb meaning 'word by word, sentence by sentence', used to describe careful, line-by-line study or translation. Pairs with 地 to modify a verb (逐字逐句地读, 翻译, 分析).

adverb
word for word and sentence for sentencemeticulouslycovering every word and sentence

Examples

  • 逐字逐句，。
    Tā zhú zì zhú jù dì dú wán le zhěng běn xiǎo shuō, yí gè xì jié dōu méi cuò guò.
    He read the entire novel word for word and didn't miss a single detail.
  • 逐字逐句。
    Fān yì hé tong de shí hou yí dìng yào zhú zì zhú jù dì hé duì.
    When translating a contract, you must check it word for word and sentence for sentence.
  • 逐字逐句。
    Lǎo shī yāo qiú wǒ men zhú zì zhú jù dì fēn xī zhè piān gǔ wén.
    The teacher asked us to analyze this classical text word for word and sentence for sentence.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

逐字word by word
逐zhúone by one字zìcharacter
动宾Verb + object
逐句sentence by sentence
逐zhúone by one句jùsentence
动宾Verb + object

逐字 and 逐句, each with 逐 one by one, give every word and sentence.

Characters in this word

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

  • 辵辵chuòwalking
  • 豕豕shǐpig

逐 joins 辵, shown as walking, with 豕, a pig, to picture someone chasing a pig.

Open 逐 →

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
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
子
子zǐ字zì
Same sound today

字 pairs 宀 (roof) with 子 (child); 子 gives the sound, while 宀 relates to the meaning.

Open 字 →

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

  • 辵辵chuòwalking
  • 豕豕shǐpig

逐 joins 辵, shown as walking, with 豕, a pig, to picture someone chasing a pig.

Open 逐 →

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
丩丩jiūto entangle
Sound part声符shēngfú
口
口kǒu句jù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

句 pairs 丩, originally two entangled ropes and giving a sense of entangling, with 口 as the sound part.

Open 句 →

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