Six Methods of forming Chinese characters, according to Han dictionary Shuowen 說文|说文 - namely, two primary methods: 象形 (pictogram), 指事 (ideogram), two compound methods: 會意|会意 (combined ideogram), 形聲|形声 (ideogram plus phonetic), and two transfer methods: 假借 (loan), 轉注|转注 (transfer)
lit. firebird soars, phoenix alights (idiom) / fig. bold, graceful calligraphy / married couple separated from each other / talented person not given the opportunity to fulfill his potential
(math.) interpolation / (human resources) internal referral / employee referral (recommendation of a potential new employee by an existing employee or client)
combined ideogram (one of the Six Methods 六書|六书[liu4 shu1] of forming Chinese characters) / Chinese character that combines the meanings of existing elements / also known as joint ideogram or associative compound / to comprehend without being told explicitly / to cotton on / knowing (smile, glance etc)
wording (of a proposal) / formulation / viewpoint (on an issue) / (one of eight methods of bonesetting in TCM) restoring the part displaced by a fracture to its correct position by lifting
to make use of / to use sth as pretext / under false pretenses / under the guise of / masquerading as / lenient / tolerant / loan character (one of the Six Methods 六書|六书 of forming Chinese characters) / character acquiring meanings by phonetic association / also called phonetic loan
ideogram plus phonetic (one of the Six Methods 六書|六书 of forming Chinese characters) / also known as phonogram, phonetic compound or picto-phonetic character
combined ideogram (one of the Six Methods 六書|六书 of forming Chinese characters) / Chinese character that combines the meanings of existing elements / also known as joint ideogram or associative compound
loan character (one of the Six Methods 六書|六书 of forming Chinese characters) / character acquiring meanings by phonetic association / also called phonetic loan
ideogram (one of the Six Methods 六書|六书 of forming Chinese characters) / Chinese character indicating an idea, such as up and down / also known as self-explanatory character
The four tones
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