逾越 (yú yuè) — to exceed (a limit, boundary, or rule); to climb over (an obstacle, wall)

Definition

A formal/literary verb meaning to exceed or transgress a limit, boundary, or rule — stronger and more written than everyday 超/超过, and used for crossing moral or legal red lines (底线、红线). It is transitive and takes 了.

verb
to exceed (a limit, boundary, or rule)to climb over (an obstacle, wall)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 逾越。
    Tā de xíng wéi yǐ jīng yú yuè le fǎ lǜ de hóng xiàn.
    His behavior has already exceeded the red line of the law.
  • ，逾越。
    Zhè dào qiáng tài gāo, méi rén néng yú yuè guò qù.
    This wall is too high; no one can climb over it.
  • 逾越。
    Zuò rén bú yīng gāi yú yuè dào dé dǐ xiàn.
    A person should not transgress moral boundaries.

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.

逾yúexceed
越yuècross

逾 and 越 both mean cross or exceed; together they express going beyond a limit or boundary.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辶Written in full as辵chuò
Sound part声符shēngfú
俞
俞yú逾yú
Same sound today

逾 is built from 辶 (written in full as 辵) and 俞. The 辶 part is tied to the meaning, while 俞 gives the sound.

Open 逾 →

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
走走zǒuto walk or run
Sound part声符shēngfú
戉
戉yuè越yuè
Same sound today

越 is built from 走 (to walk or run) and 戉 (which supplies the sound); the 走 part shows the idea of going over or crossing.

Open 越 →
Appears in
Abstract Concepts

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