解放

jiěfàng

verb/noun HSK 5 #4,903

Meanings

1 to liberate; to emancipate
2 liberation

Characters

to untie; to solve; to release

to release; to let go

Untying and releasing — setting someone or something free.

Examples

1949年中国解放了。

1949 nián Zhōngguó jiěfàng le.

China was liberated in 1949.

科技可以解放人们的双手。

Kējì kěyǐ jiěfàng rénmen de shuāng shǒu.

Technology can free people's hands.

妇女解放运动改变了社会。

Fùnǚ jiěfàng yùndòng gǎibiàn le shèhuì.

The women's liberation movement changed society.

解放军是中国的武装力量。

Jiěfàngjūn shì Zhōngguó de wǔzhuāng lìliang.

The PLA is China's armed forces.

Tips

culture

解放 is deeply tied to Chinese modern history. '解放前' (before liberation) and '解放后' (after liberation) refer to before and after the founding of the PRC in 1949. 中国人民解放军 (PLA) is the country's military.

usage

解放 can be used figuratively: 解放思想 (liberate thinking), 解放双手 (free one's hands). In modern Chinese, it often means 'to free up' in casual contexts.

Stroke Order

解 jiě

放 fàng