架空 (jià kōng) — to build on stilts; to suspend in the air (literally); to sideline someone's power; to make someone a figurehead (figuratively); to fabricate; to create a fictional setting (e.g. in literature)
Definition
A verb with two figurative senses: to render someone powerless (make a figurehead) and to fabricate a fictional setting. Only the literal sense means 'build/suspend in the air.'
verb
to build on stiltsto suspend in the air (literally)to sideline someone's powerto make someone a figurehead (figuratively)to fabricateto create a fictional setting (e.g. in literature)
Examples
- 架空。Zhè zuò gǔ chéng yǒu yī céng jià kōng zài shuǐ miàn shàng de zhàn dào.This ancient city has a boardwalk suspended above the water.
- 架空。Xīn lái de jīng lǐ hěn kuài jiù bèi lǎo yuán gōng jià kōng le.The new manager was quickly sidelined by the veteran employees.
- 架空。Tā xǐ huan zài xiǎo shuō lǐ jià kōng yí gè quán xīn de shì jiè.He likes to fabricate a completely new world in his novels.
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