Analysis of Major Characters and Words (第十四课)

Analysis of Major Characters and Words (第十五课)

2. 平等平 (“even, level; balanced” -> Even the shape of the character shows a kind

of “evenness, symmetry”, doesn’t it?) + 等 (“grade, gradation”) -> “at the

same level” -> “equal; equality”

3. 怀孕怀 (the altered “heart” radical 心 on the left -> “to keep hidden in one’s

heart” ) + 孕 (the top part 乃 might be the womb; and the embryonic “child”

子 is in it -> “pregnant” )

5. 主妇主 (“chief; host, owner”) + 妇 (“adult woman”) -> the female host [of the

house, hostess; housewife

6. 护士护 (the altered “hand” radical on the left -> “to support with a hand; to

shield, protect”) + 士 (professional worker) -> “nurse”

8. 社会社 (the “deity” radical on the left + the “earth” part 土 on the right -> “god

of land” -> society, association) + 会 (“meeting, assembly”)

17. 解决解 (to cut the “horn” 角 of an “ox” 牛with a “knife” 刀 -> “to solve”)

18. 现象现 (见 “see; visible” -> “to emerge, appear”) + 象 (“signs; symbols”) ->

“the emerging sign, namely, phenomenon”

20. 薪水薪 (the “grass, plant” radical on top -> “firewood, fuel” -> “salary” <Salary

is the firewood/fuel of one’s living? A metaphor that makes sense to me.)

23. 职位职 (the “ear” radical 耳on the left -> listen <and watch> -> “duty; post,

position”) + 位 (“seat; position”)

25. 歧视歧(the left part 止 “stop one’s feet [at forked roads]” -> “forked; different”)

+ 视 (“to see, view”) -> “regard differently, namely, discriminate”

27. 地位地 (“ground; territory”) + 位 (“seat”) -> status

28. 不断断 (“strands of silk” on the left, the “axe” 斤 on the right) -> “to cut, sever”

31. 乐观乐 (short for “happy” 快乐) + 观 (“view” 见 on the right) -> “to take a

happy, rosy view of; optimistic”

32. 分担分 (“to divide”) + 担 (“burden, responsibilities, workload, etc.”)

35. 亲戚亲 (relatives on father’s side) + 戚 (relatives on mother’s side)

36. 模范模 (“a wooden mold”) -> “model, example, paragon”

38. 体贴体 (“body”) + 贴 (“stick, glue”) -> “intimate” -> “considerate”

43. 重男轻女重 (“heavy; grave” -> “attach importance to”) + 轻 (“light” ->

“to slight, belittle, look down upon”)

46. 服从服 (short for “serve” 服务) + 从 (pictograph: one person 人 follows another

人step by step) –> “to obey”

49. 做主做 (“act as”) + 主 (“host; mastermind”, See 5) -> “to make the decision”

51. 未婚夫未 (= 还没有 “not yet”) + 婚 (short for 结婚 “get married”) + 夫 (short

for 丈夫 “husband”) -> man that a woman hasn’t married yet -> “fiancé”

57. 同工同酬酬 (the “liquor” radical 酉on the left -> “toast” -> “reward”)

58. 改革改 (the altered “self” [自]己 on the left + the right part “to strike” ->

“to strike one’s self” -> “to correct, reform”) + 革 (“leather; to process,

transform”)

59. 突出突 (top: “den” 穴; bottom: “dog” 犬) + 出 -> “dog rushing from its den” ->

“outstanding; to stand out”

65. 照顾照 (“to illuminate, reflect light”) + 顾 (the “head” radical 页on the right ->

turn back one’s head -> “attend to, look after”)

72. 体现体 (“body”) + 现 (“to appear, emerge”) -> “to embody; to manifest”