Definition
撞钟 is a separable verb (离合词) meaning 'to strike or toll a bell,' often heard in temple contexts. It also appears in the idiom 做一天和尚撞一天钟 ('to go through the motions like a monk who just rings the bell each day'), carrying a connotation of doing the bare minimum without purpose. When separated, measure words or durations go between 撞 and 钟, e.g. 撞了三次钟 ('struck the bell three times').
v.o.
to strike a bellto toll a bell(figurative) to go through the motionsto do one's job without passion (from the idiom 做一天和尚撞一天钟)
Examples
- ，撞钟。Měi tiān qīngchén, sì lǐ de héshang dōu huì ànshí zhuàng zhōng.Every morning, the monks in the temple toll the bell on time.
- ，。Tā juéde zìjǐ kuài tuìxiū le, gōngzuò zhǐ shì zuò yì tiān héshang zhuàng yì tiān zhōng.He felt he was about to retire and was just going through the motions at work.
- ，。Zhè zuò gǔ zhōng hěn dà, xūyào hǎojǐ ge rén yìqǐ cái néng zhuàng xiǎng yí cì zhōng.This ancient bell is very large; it takes several people together to strike it once.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.