驿站 (yì zhàn) — relay station (in ancient China's postal/courier system)

Definition

A relay station on imperial China's postal roads, where couriers changed horses and rested. Refers specifically to the ancient courier system, not modern post offices (邮局) or modern inns.

noun
relay station (in ancient China's postal/courier system)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 驿站，。
    Zhè ge yì zhàn zài gǔ dài hěn zhòng yào, yóu chāi zài zhè lǐ huàn mǎ.
    This relay station was very important in ancient times; couriers changed horses here.
  • 驿站。
    yì zhàn Shì sī chóu zhī lù shàng de zhòng yào xiū xi diǎn.
    The relay station was an important resting point on the Silk Road.
  • 驿站。
    Gǔ dài yì zhàn wèi xìn shǐ tí gōng le bì yào de shí wù hé xiū xi.
    Ancient relay stations provided messengers with necessary food and rest.

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.

驿yìrelay
站zhànstation

驿 refers to courier relays and 站 means station, so it names a relay station.

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 驛; 驿 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
馬馬mǎhorse
Sound part声符shēngfú
睪
睪yì驛⁰yì
Same sound today

The traditional form 驛 pairs 馬 (horse) with 睪, which supplies the sound yì. The simplified 驿 is a shorthand, so its parts are not the historical parts.

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
立立lì
Sound part声符shēngfú
占
占zhàn站zhàn
Same sound today

站 has 立 on the left and 占 on the right; 立 relates to standing, and 占 gives the sound.

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