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针对 (zhēn duì) — to target, to aim at (a person or group); in response to, based on (a situation or issue)

Definition

针对 frames an action as directed at a specific audience, issue, or situation (often policies, remarks, plans). Closer to 着眼 ('have in mind') in intent, but 着眼 names the focus abstractly while 针对 explicitly targets something concrete.

verb
to targetto aim at (a person or group)in response tobased on (a situation or issue)

Examples

  • 针对。
    Tā shuō de nà jù huà shì zhēn duì nǐ de.
    That remark of his was aimed at you.
  • 针对。
    Zhèng fǔ yīng gāi zhēn duì zhè ge wèn tí zhì dìng xīn zhèng cè.
    The government should make new policies targeting this issue.
  • 针对。
    Zhè ge jì huà shì zhēn duì tí gāo xiào lǜ de.
    This plan is aimed at improving efficiency.

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.

针zhēnneedle
对duìface

针 evokes a needle's point, and 对 means to aim or face.

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 針; 针 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
釒Written in full as金jīnmetal
Sound part声符shēngfú
十
十shí針zhēn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 針 puts 釒, the metal side, beside 十, which gives the sound; 针 is a simplified shorthand.

Open 针 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 對; 对 is its simplified writing.

For the traditional form 對, the shape comes from an early drawing of 丵 (a digging tool), 土 (earth), and 又 (a hand); it may have meant developing land.

Open 对 →
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