构 gòu — Broussonetia papyrifera; to construct; to form; to make up; to compose
这座房子的结构很坚固。Zhè zuò fáng zi de jié gòu hěn jiān gù.The structure of this house is very solid.
Common words: 机构 (jī gòu)、结构 (jié gòu)、构成 (gòu chéng)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "to make up"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "to make up", including 构 (gòu), 占 (zhān / zhàn), 捏 (niē). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "to make up" covers 3 different Chinese characters — 构 (gòu), 占 (zhān / zhàn), 捏 (niē) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 3 characters do not share a sound — their readings span gòu, zhān, zhàn, niē — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 构 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 构 gòuBroussonetia papyrifera; to construct; to form; to make up; to composeUseful words: 机构, 结构
- 占 zhān / zhànto observe; to divine; to divine; to occupy; to constitute; to make upUseful words: 占领, 占有
- 捏 niēto pinch (with one's fingers); to knead; to make upUseful words: 捏合, 捏造
Common words for these 3 "to make up" characters
Anchor each of these 3 characters in a word you can picture — start with 构 (gòu) — so "to make up" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
机构jī gòumechanism; structure; organization; agency结构jié gòustructure; composition; makeup; architecture构成gòu chéngto constitute; to form; to compose; to make up占领zhàn lǐngto capture; to seize; to occupy by force占有zhàn yǒuto have; to own; to hold; to occupy占线zhàn xiànbusy (telephone line)捏合niē héto act as a go between捏造niē zàoto make up; to fabricate拿捏ná niē(lit. and fig.) to grasp; to control; (dialect) affecting shyness; coy
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 3 ways to say "to make up".
占 zhān / zhàn — to observe; to divine; to divine; to occupy; to constitute; to make up
这张桌子占了不少地方。Zhè zhāng zhuō zi zhàn le bù shǎo dì fang.This table takes up quite a lot of space.
Common words: 占领 (zhàn lǐng)、占有 (zhàn yǒu)、占线 (zhàn xiàn)
捏 niē — to pinch (with one's fingers); to knead; to make up
小朋友用橡皮泥捏了一只小兔子。Xiǎo péng you yòng xiàng pí ní niē le yì zhī xiǎo tù zi.The child made a little rabbit out of plasticine.
Common words: 捏合 (niē hé)、捏造 (niē zào)、拿捏 (ná niē)
All 3 characters
Open 构、占、捏 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.