隶属 (lì shǔ) — to be subordinate to, to be under the jurisdiction of

Definition

隶属 is a formal verb meaning 'to be subordinate to / fall under the authority of' an organization or territory. It takes 于 to introduce the higher body and is used in official or written contexts.

verb
to be subordinate toto be under the jurisdiction of

Examples

  • 隶属。
    Zhè ge bù mén zhí jiē lì shǔ yú zǒng gōng sī.
    This department is directly subordinate to the head company.
  • 隶属。
    Gāi dì qū lì shǐ shàng céng lì shǔ bù tóng de guó jiā.
    Historically, this region was subordinate to different countries.
  • 隶属。
    Tā suǒ zài de bù duì lì shǔ zhōng bù zhàn qū.
    The unit he belongs to is under the Central Theater Command.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

隶lìattach
属shǔbelong

Both '隶' and '属' express attachment or belonging, so the whole means be subordinate to.

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 隸; 隶 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
隶隶lìarrest
Sound part声符shēngfú
柰
柰nài隸lì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 隸 pairs 柰 for sound with 隶 for arrest; the simplified 隶 is a shorthand.

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 屬; 属 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
㞑Written in full as尾wěitail
Sound part声符shēngfú
蜀
蜀shǔ屬shǔ
Same sound today

The traditional form 屬 pairs 㞑 (tail) with 蜀 as a sound part; the simplified 属 is a shorthand.

Open 属 →
Appears in

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