邦联 (bāng lián) — confederation

Definition

A loose political union of sovereign states that keep more independence than under a federation (联邦). Members share some institutions but each retains its own government and foreign policy.

noun
confederation
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 邦联。
    Zhè ge bāng lián yóu sān gè dú lì guó jiā zǔ chéng.
    This confederation is made up of three independent countries.
  • ，邦联。
    Lì shǐ shàng, ruì shì céng jīng shì yí gè bāng lián.
    Historically, Switzerland was once a confederation.
  • 邦联。
    Tā men jué dìng chéng lì yí gè bāng lián lái jiā qiáng hé zuò.
    They decided to form a confederation to strengthen cooperation.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

邦bāngstate
联liánalliance

邦 means state, and 联 means alliance; together: an alliance of states.

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
阝Written in full as邑yì
Sound part声符shēngfú
丰
丰fēng邦bāng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

邦 combines 丰, which gives the sound, with 阝, the side form of 邑, a settlement.

Open 邦 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 聯; 联 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 聯 combines 耳 (ear) and 絲 (silk); 联 is a simplified form of 聯.

Open 联 →

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