黄牌 (huáng pái) — yellow card (in sports); warning, caution (figurative)

Definition

Literally 'yellow card', used in soccer and other sports for a formal warning to a player. Figuratively, it means a caution or warning (e.g. from a bank or regulator) signaling that further problems may bring serious consequences.

noun
yellow card (in sports)warningcaution (figurative)
Measure word · 张

Examples

  • 黄牌。
    Cái pàn gěi le duì fāng yì zhāng huáng pái.
    The referee gave the opponent a yellow card.
  • 黄牌。
    Bǐ sài zhōng tā yīn wèi fàn guī chī dào le yì zhāng huáng pái.
    During the game, he received a yellow card for a foul.
  • 黄牌，。
    Gōng sī shōu dào le yín háng de huáng pái, tí xǐng huán kuǎn.
    The company received a warning from the bank reminding them to repay.

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.

黄huángyellow
牌páicard

Yellow 黄 describes the card 牌 shown as a warning.

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 黃; 黄 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
田田tiánfield
Sound part声符shēngfú
炗
炗guāng黃huáng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 黃 pairs 田 (field) with 炗 (light), which gives the sound; the simplified 黄 is a shorthand and its parts are not historical components.

Open 黄 →

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
片片piàn
Sound part声符shēngfú
卑
卑bēi牌pái
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

牌 puts 片, a flat piece, beside 卑, which gives the sound.

Open 牌 →

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