Definition
企 is a bound morpheme (b.f., 语素) that rarely appears alone. Its original meaning is 'to stand on tiptoe' (visible in the compound 企鹅 'penguin'), but in modern Chinese it primarily conveys 'to hope for' or 'to look forward to', appearing in compounds like 企业 'enterprise', 企图 'attempt', and 期望 'expectation'.
b.f.
(bound form) to hope forto look forward to(bound form) original sense: to stand on tiptoe
Examples
- 。Zhè jiā qǐyè zài guójì shìchǎng shàng hěn yǒu jìngzhēnglì.This enterprise is very competitive in the international market.
- 。Tā de qǐtú bèi jǐngchá jíshí fāxiàn le.His plot was discovered by the police in time.
- 。Nánjí de qǐ'é zǒu qǐ lù lái yáo yáo bǎi bǎi de.Penguins in Antarctica waddle when they walk.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.