铺垫 (pū diàn) — bedding, cushion, mat (physical padding); foreshadowing, groundwork, preparation (figurative, e.g. in a story or plan)
Definition
Literally 'spread a cushion/mat' (physical padding), but commonly used as 'foreshadowing, groundwork, preparation' in writing, speeches, or plans.
noun
beddingcushionmat (physical padding)foreshadowinggroundworkpreparation (figurative, e.g. in a story or plan)
Examples
- 铺垫，。Dì shàng pù le yī céng pū diàn, zuò shàng qù hěn shū fu.A layer of cushioning was spread on the floor, making it very comfortable to sit on.
- 铺垫。Xiǎo shuō kāi tóu de nà duàn miáo xiě wèi hòu miàn de qíng jié zuò le hěn hǎo de pū diàn.The description at the beginning of the novel serves as excellent foreshadowing for the later plot.
- 铺垫。Tán pàn qián de yǒu hǎo jiāo liú shì yì zhǒng zhòng yào de pū diàn.Friendly communication before negotiations is an important form of groundwork.
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