Definition
挂彩 is a separable verb (离合词) with two very different meanings. The first is 'to hang colorful decorations' for festive occasions like weddings or New Year's. The second is a military idiom meaning 'to be wounded in action' (literally 'to hang a colored ribbon'). Because it's a separable verb, the object 彩 can be separated from 挂 with measure words or other elements: 挂过彩 ('has been wounded'), 挂了彩 ('got wounded').
v.o.
to hang colorful decorations (for a festive occasion)to be wounded in action (military slang)
Examples
- ，挂彩。Chūnjié kuài dào le, jiājiāhùhù dōu zài mén qián guà cǎi.Spring Festival is coming, and every household is hanging colorful decorations in front of the door.
- ，。Tā zài shàng yí cì zhàndòu zhōng guà guò cǎi, xiànzài shāng yǐjīng hǎo le.He was wounded in the last battle, and now the wound has healed.
- 。Zhè wèi lǎo bīng céngjīng guà guò liǎng cì cǎi.This veteran has been wounded twice.
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