高架桥 (gāo jià qiáo) — viaduct; overpass

Definition

An elevated roadway or bridge built above ground level to carry traffic over roads, rivers, or other obstacles. Unlike a regular 桥, it is a long, multi-span structure typically used for vehicles in urban expressway systems.

noun
viaductoverpass
Measure word · 座

Examples

  • 高架桥，。
    Zhè zuò chéng shì xīn jiàn le yí zuò gāo jià qiáo, huǎn jiě le jiāo tōng yōng dǔ.
    This city built a new viaduct, which relieved traffic congestion.
  • 高架桥，。
    gāo jià qiáo Shàng jìn zhǐ xíng rén tōng xíng, zhī yǔn xǔ chē liàng tōng guò.
    Pedestrians are prohibited on the overpass; only vehicles are allowed.
  • 高架桥，。
    Kāi chē cóng gāo jià qiáo zǒu, kě yǐ shěng xià bù shǎo shí jiān.
    Driving via the viaduct can save a lot of time.

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.

高架elevated structure
高gāohigh架jiàraised structure
偏正Modifier + head
桥qiáobridge

高 says the 架 is high, and 桥 is the bridge.

Characters in this word

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

高 was drawn as a tall building.

Open 高 →

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
木木mùtree, wood
Sound part声符shēngfú
加
加jiā架jià
Same sound today

架 shows 木, meaning wood, with 加 giving the sound; it refers to a wooden prop.

Open 架 →

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 橋; 桥 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mùwood
Sound part声符shēngfú
喬
喬qiáo橋qiáo
Same sound today

The traditional form 橋 pairs 木 (wood) with 喬 (qiáo), which gave the character its sound; the simplified 桥 is a later abbreviation.

Open 桥 →

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