Chinese word

起跑线

Pronunciation

Pinyinqǐ pǎo xiàn

Meaning

  • nounstarting line

Example

比赛马上开始了，大家都站在起跑线上。bǐ sài mǎ shàng kāi shǐ le dà jiā dōu zhàn zài qí pǎo xiàn shàng

The competition is about to start, and everyone is standing at the starting line.

Illustration for 起跑线 (starting line)

More examples

比赛的计时从起跑线开始。bǐ sài de jì shí cóng qí pǎo xiàn kāi shǐ

Race timing starts from the starting line.

Core concept

A visible boundary between not yet begun and already in motion, for runners or for a developing plan.

Common phrases

  • 从起跑线开始计时cóng qí pǎo xiàn kāi shǐ jì shí

    start timing from the starting line

  • 离起跑线很近lí qí pǎo xiàn hěn jìn

    very close to the starting line

Similar words

起点qí diǎn: The beginning point of an event or process.
出发点chū fā diǎn: A starting place for an action, plan, or journey.

Definition in Chinese

某一事件或过程开始的起点，既可指体育比赛中的出发线，也可指事物展开的起始位置。mǒu yí shì jiàn huò guò chéng kāi shǐ de qí diǎn jì kě zhǐ tǐ yù bǐ sài zhōng de chū fā xiàn yě kě zhǐ shì wù zhǎn kāi de qí shǐ wèi zhì

Word origin

起跑线 (qǐpǎoxiàn, "starting line") combines 起 (qǐ, "begin"), 跑 (pǎo, "run"), and 线 (xiàn, "line"), and its race-based image extends naturally to the beginning of any process.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may expect a race context, but this noun also appears in discussions of preparation, opportunity, and progress.

Other meanings

  • starting pointnoun
  • startnoun

Opposites

  • 终点线zhōng diǎn xiànfinish linenoun

Related words

  • 起跑反应qí pǎo fǎn yìngstarting reactionnoun

Word lists with this word