词组
cí zǔ
Phrases · trad. 詞組
词组 (cízǔ) is the standard term for 'phrase' in Mandarin Chinese. It refers to a group of words that functions as a grammatical unit but is not a complete sentence. It's commonly used in language learning and grammatical discussions.
When to use it
Neutral and academic. In casual conversation, people might use '几个词' (jǐ ge cí, 'a few words') or '一句话' (yī jù huà, 'a sentence/expression') if they mean a short utterance. There isn't a direct 'reply' to this term itself.
How to pronounce it
Sounds roughly like 'tsuh-ZOO.' Both syllables have a rising tone, so it's 'cí zǔ.'
Other ways to say it
- 短语duǎn yǔphrase (often interchangeable with 词组)
- 习语xí yǔidiom (a type of fixed phrase)
- 表达biǎo dáexpression (more general)
Examples
这是一个常用的词组。
zhè shì yí gè cháng yòng de cí zǔ 。
This is a commonly used phrase.
请记住这些词组。
qǐng jì zhù zhè xiē cí zǔ 。
Please remember these phrases.
学习词组能帮助你更好地理解句子。
xué xí cí zǔ néng bāng zhù nǐ gèng hǎo dì lǐ jiě jù zi 。
Learning phrases can help you understand sentences better.
Pro tip: While 词组 and 短语 are often interchangeable in grammar, 词组 tends to emphasize the 'grouping of words,' while 短语 can also imply a 'short expression.' Both are widely accepted.
Related phrases
常用语 · Basic phrases常用短语 · Common phrases重要短语 · Important phrases
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