非政府 (fēi zhèng fǔ) — non- (prefix forming non-governmental compounds)

Definition

Bound prefix meaning 'non-governmental', attached to nouns like 组织 or 机构 to denote NGOs and similar bodies. It always precedes another word; it is not used on its own.

adjective
non- (prefix forming non-governmental compounds)

Examples

  • 非政府。
    Zhè ge fēi zhèng fǔ zǔ zhī bāng zhù le hěn duō nàn mín.
    This NGO helped many refugees.
  • 非政府。
    Tā céng zài fēi zhèng fǔ jī gòu gōng zuò.
    He once worked in a non-governmental institution.
  • 非政府。
    Wǒ men xū yào gèng duō fēi zhèng fǔ de lì liàng.
    We need more non-governmental strength.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
前缀qiánzhuìPrefix

A fixed syllable in front that adds a shade of meaning but carries none of its own.

非fēinon-
政府government
政zhèngpolitics府fǔoffice
偏正Modifier + head

非 carries the sense of not or outside, while 政府 names the state or public authority.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 非 is drawn from two wings facing opposite directions. It later came to be used for going against or not being.

Open 非 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攴攴pūaction
Sound part声符shēngfú
正
正zhèng政zhèng
Same sound today

政 combines 正, which gives the sound, with 攴, an action-related part.

Open 政 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
广广guǎngbuilding
Sound part声符shēngfú
付
付fù府fǔ
Same sound today

府 shows a type of building with 广, while 付 gives the character its sound.

Open 府 →

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