Definitions
About
The character "徒" is structured with the radical "彳", representing movement, alongside the component "走", meaning to walk, which directly points to its earliest meaning of moving on foot without a vehicle. This concrete sense expanded to denote individuals who follow or accompany on foot, such as foot soldiers or attendants, leading to the derived meaning of a disciple or adherent within a philosophical or religious context. Over time, the character's semantic range further broadened to include abstract notions of emptiness or inefficacy, evident in usages conveying actions done in vain or groups defined by a lack of qualification, illustrating a progression from physical locomotion to figurative expressions of futility and simple affiliation.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这个徒弟很聪明。
我们徒步去公园。
他徒手打开了瓶子。
你的努力是徒劳的。
他是虔诚的信徒。
警察逮捕了那些暴徒。
这个学徒正在学习手艺。
他的计划徒增烦恼。