Character of the day – 提
Getting carried away. 提 ( tí ) is another character that seems to have sailed into view quite a few times recently. It can mean carry (in hand with arm hanging down) move upward; raise; promote move up (a date); advance speak of; mention; put forward draw; take out; withdraw bring or take out from prison under escort; summon dipper; ladle It's also pronounced dī , but my big dictionary gives it in the words 提防 ( dīfang ) "be on guard against" and 提溜 ( dīliu ) "hold in hand". 提 ( tí ) is used in words such as 提出 ( tíchū ) "put forward; raise"; 提法 ( tífa ) "the way something is put; formulation; wording"; 提高 ( tígāo ) "raise; lift; improve"; 提名 ( tímíng ) "nominate". (Can I make a bad pun about nomination depending on timing? [ Not bloody likely . –ed.]) 提 is also used in the word 提琴 ( tíqín ) "any instrument of the violin family". The violin is the 小提琴 ( xiǎo tíqín ) "little tíqín "; the viola the 中提琴 ( ...