半决赛
bàn jué sài · HSK 6
semifinal
🏆 半决赛 = half + decide + match (the match that decides who reaches the final)
半 (bàn) means half, 决 (jué) means decide, 赛 (sài) means match or contest. Together: the half-stage decider — winners advance to the final, losers go home.
半 — 八 (split) + 牛 (ox/cow)
半 originally depicted an ox (牛) being divided in two, shown by the splitting strokes 八 on top. The image of cleaving an ox down the middle gave rise to the meaning 'half' or 'to divide into halves'. The modern sense of 'half' or 'partial' comes directly from this ancient act of splitting.
赛 — roof 宀 + 共 (together) + shell 貝
赛 originally meant offering thanks or recompense to spirits, written with 貝 (cowrie/money) suggesting tribute or payment. The upper part acts as the phonetic component. Over time the meaning shifted from ritual repayment to 'compete' or 'contest,' as in matches between rivals.