构成

• Pinyin: gòu chéng
• Hanzi breakdown: 构 = 木 (wood) + 勾 (hook) — to construct by joining; 成 = to become or achieve — forming a complete whole

Meaning

To constitute; to form; to make up. Describes elements combining to create a whole.

Used to describe what components form a larger entity. Common in scientific, legal, and analytical contexts. Collocations include 构成威胁 (constitute a threat), 构成犯罪 (constitute a crime), and describing chemical or social composition.

Examples

1. 水是由氢和氧构成的。 Water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen.
2. 这些问题构成了严重的安全隐患。 These problems constitute a serious safety hazard.
3. 团队由来自不同专业的人员构成。 The team is made up of members from different professional backgrounds.

Usage Guide

Context: academic, professional

Tone: analytical

Do Say

• 这三个部分构成了文章的主要内容。(These three parts constitute the main content of the article.)
• 他的行为已经构成了违规。(His behaviour already constitutes a violation.)

Don't Say

• 我构成了一个计划 (Don't use 构成 for creating plans — use 制定 or 想出; 构成 describes what components make up a whole, not the act of creating)

Origin & History

构 (to construct, from 木 wood + 勾 hook — joining pieces together) + 成 (to become/achieve). To build up into a whole — constituting.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal