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采集 (cǎi jí) — to gather, to collect (specimens, data, natural resources, etc.)

Definition

采集 (cǎijí) means to gather or collect — typically specimens, data, or natural resources in a field/research context. More technical than 收集/搜集 (general collecting); 收割 is for crops, 上传 is for digital upload.

verb
to gatherto collect (specimens, data, natural resources, etc.)

Examples

  • 采集。
    Kē xué jiā zài sēn lín lǐ cǎi jí zhí wù biāo běn.
    Scientists collect plant specimens in the forest.
  • 采集。
    Zhè ge xì tǒng néng zì dòng cǎi jí yòng hù xìn xī.
    This system can automatically collect user information.
  • 采集。
    Nóng mín měi nián qiū tiān cǎi jí chéng shú de guǒ shí.
    Farmers harvest ripe fruits every autumn.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

采cǎigather
集jícollect

采集 combines 采 (gather) and 集 (collect), describing gathering items or data.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 採; 采 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 采 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (采访, 采购) it is 採; in others it is 采.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
采
采cǎi採cǎi
Same sound today

The traditional form 採 combines 扌 (hand) with 采, which gives the sound and means to pick.

Open 采 →

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

集 pairs 隹 (bird) with 木 (tree), showing birds on a tree, hence a gathering.

Open 集 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Science (General)

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