配 (pèi) — to match, to suit; to deserve; to allocate, to equip with; (adjective) well-matched, complementary (often used as predicate: 很配)
Definition
配 covers three distinct senses: matching/suiting (a color 很配, pairs with 适合), deserving (∼得上, like 值得), and equipping/allocating. Unlike 适合, it focuses on two things going well together, not fitting a person or purpose.
verb
to matchto suitto deserveto allocateto equip with
adjective
well-matchedcomplementary (often used as predicate: 很配)
Examples
- 配。Zhè tiáo qún zi de yán sè gēn nǐ de xié zi hěn pèi.The color of this dress matches your shoes well.
- ，配。Tā gōng zuò hěn nǔ lì, wán quán pèi dé shàng zhè ge jiǎng lì.He works very hard and fully deserves this reward.
- 配。Měi gè fáng jiān dōu pèi le yì tái xīn diàn shì.Every room was equipped with a new TV.
Origin
Compound ideograph六书liùshū
会意huìyìTwo or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.
- 酉酉yǒualcohol vessel
- 卩卩jiékneeling person
配 is formed by putting 酉, an alcohol vessel, next to 卩, a kneeling person. The reference gives these two parts, but not the reason they combine.
Appears in
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