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道谢 (dào xiè) — to express thanks, to thank (someone)

Definition

A formal verb meaning 'to express thanks' (often as a set action like thanking someone in person). Contrast with the noun 谢谢, which is the everyday 'thank you' used in conversation.

verb
to express thanksto thank (someone)

Examples

  • 道谢。
    Tā xiàng wǒ dào xiè le.
    He thanked me.
  • 。
    Wǒ lín bié shí xiàng tā dào le yī shēng xiè.
    I said a word of thanks to him as I left.
  • 道谢。
    Nǐ zuì hǎo dāng miàn xiàng zhǔ rén dào xiè.
    You'd better thank the host in person.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

道dàosay/express
谢xièthanks

“道” expresses saying and “谢” is thanks; together mean to say thanks.

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
行行xíngstreet
止止zhǐfoot
Sound part声符shēngfú
𩠐
首shǒu道dào
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

Early 道 showed a street 行, a foot 止, and a part written 首 or 𩠐; the right part of 行 later disappeared.

Open 道 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 謝; 谢 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánword; speech
Sound part声符shēngfú
射
射shè謝xiè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 謝 pairs 言 (word; speech) with 射, which gives the sound. The simplified 谢 is a written form of this character.

Open 谢 →
Appears in
Greetings & Politeness

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